New Site Checklist

checklist_site_launch.txt

Design Phase =================================================================

Client Management ------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Have we received a design brief from the client?
  [ ] Have we received sample content from the client?
  [ ] Have we quoted the client?
  [ ] Has the client signed off on the quote?

Infrastructure ---------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Is the domain name registered?
  [ ] Has this site been set up in SVN? (if necessary)
  
Design Check -----------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Does the design meet the design brief?
  [ ] Is the design implementable? (i.e.: with HTML, CSS and JavaScript)
  [ ] Does the design meet our product specifications?
      [ ] Are there any blocks or modules that we do not currently offer?
      [ ] Does this design require data that we do not store?
  [ ] Is there additional development required?
      [ ] Was that factored into the quote?
  [ ] Do we have designs for:
      [ ] The home page?
      [ ] Article page?
      [ ] Player bio?
      [ ] Roster page?
      [ ] Schedule page?
      [ ] Video page?
      [ ] Any additional custom pages?
     
Documentation ----------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Is this site noted in the staff wiki?
  [ ] Has a lighthouse/basecamp task been set up for this site?


Implementation Phase =========================================================

Client Management ------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Has the client signed off on the design?

Validation -------------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Does this site pass HTML validation?
  [ ] Does this site pass CSS validation?
  [ ] Do all feeds pass RSS/Atom validation?
  [ ] Has all JavaScript (custom or production) been linted?

Documentation ----------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Have all new methods been documented? (i.e.: w/ PHPDoc?)
  [ ] Is there proper unit test coverage?
  [ ] Has any new development been noted in the staff wiki?

Details ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Does the site have a Favicon?
  [ ] Does this site have an appropriate 404/error page?
  [ ] Does this site have a working RSS/Atom feed?
  [ ] Are there placeholder images in all available promoboxes and newsers?
  
Stores -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Have we purchased a store license?
  [ ] Have we ordered an SSL certificate?


Pre-Launch Phase =============================================================

Client Management ------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Has the client signed off on the implementation?
  [ ] Has the client signed off on a launch window?
  [ ] Has the client populated the site?
  
Content Check ----------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Have we created and populated the production database?
  [ ] Are there any placeholder images remaining?
  [ ] Are there any broken links or images?
  [ ] Are any other assets (JavaScript, CSS) failing to load? (use firebug)
  [ ] Have we set up ads/DART tags for this site?
      [ ] Have we set up default house ads?

Infrastructure ---------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Do we have a vhost entry set up on the target cluster?
  [ ] Is varnish configured appropriately on the target cluster?
  [ ] Is our DNS set up to support this site?
  [ ] Has the client delegated DNS to us?
  [ ] Have we lowered the DNS TTL for launch? (i.e.: less than 300 seconds)
  [ ] Is the the site set up in Google Analytics?  
  [ ] Does this site require additional monitoring? (e.g.: Pingdom?)
  
Documentation ----------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Have the deployment and DNS details been noted in the staff wiki?

Stores -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Have we transferred all software licenses to the production server?
  [ ] Have we transferred store inventory to the production server?
  [ ] Have we received and installed an SSL certificate?


Launch Phase =================================================================


References ===================================================================

  * http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/07/15-essential-checks-before-launching-your-website/
  * http://www.boxuk.com/blog/the-ultimate-website-launch-checklist