Changing software versions operating based on configuration data deployed in a distributed system while providing continued services

A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of said one or more instructions by one or more processors contained in a node of a distributed system cause said node to perform the actions of:

• receiving a change request to change a software module from a first version to a second version, said software module being operative based on values for a set of configuration flags, said change request specifying a set of initial values and a set of target values for said set of configuration flags;
• in response to said change request:
• modifying, by a first time instance, said software module from said first version to said second version;
• operating said second version of said software module, after said first time instance, based on said set of initial values for said set of configuration flags;
• receiving, at a second time instance after said first time instance, an indication to promote said set of configuration flags;
• and
• after receipt of said indication, operating said second version of said software module based on said set of target values for said configuration flags,
• wherein between said first time instance and said second time instance, said second version of said software module is operative based on said first set of values for said set of configuration flags,
• wherein after said second time instance, said second version of said software module is operative based on said second set of values for said set of configuration flags.

A node of a distributed system, the node comprising:

• a random access memory (RAM) to store instructions;
• and
• one or more processors to retrieve and execute the instructions, wherein execution of the instructions causes the digital processing system to perform the actions of:
• operating a first version of a software module based on a first set of values for a set of configuration flags;
• receiving a change request to change said software module to a second version, said change request specifying a second set of values for said set of configuration flags;
• in response to said change request:
• modifying, by a first time instance, said software module from said first version to said second version;
• operating said second version of said software module, after said first time instance, based on said first set of values for said set of configuration flags;
• receiving, at a second time instance after said first time instance, an indication to promote said set of configuration flags;
• and
• after receipt of said indication, operating said second version of said software module based on said second set of values for said configuration flags,
• wherein between said first time instance and said second time instance, said second version of said software module is operative based on said first set of values for said set of configuration flags,
• wherein after said second time instance, said second version of said software module is operative based on said second set of values for said set of configuration flags.