CW-301c · Module 3

Pipeline Versioning & Iteration

3 min read

A pipeline is software. It has versions. Version 1 of your proposal pipeline produces adequate output. After running it ten times, you discover that the research stage consistently misses regulatory requirements, the draft stage uses passive voice too frequently, and the review stage does not check for internal consistency. Each discovery is a patch. Batch the patches, update the prompts, and tag the result as version 2.

Do This

  • Version every pipeline and maintain a changelog — "v2.1: added regulatory check to research stage"
  • Test pipeline changes on a known input before deploying to production workflows
  • Keep the previous version available for rollback — new versions sometimes regress on edge cases

Avoid This

  • Edit pipeline prompts in-place without tracking what changed — you cannot rollback what you cannot identify
  • Test changes on the next live deliverable — if the change breaks output, the deliverable ships broken
  • Assume a pipeline is done — every pipeline is an ongoing system that needs periodic maintenance