Model Versioning and Registry Best Practices

Fundamentals

Core Concepts

• Artifacts: weights, code, configs, datasets, metrics
• Lineage: relationships across artifacts and runs
• Stages: Staging → Production → Archived

Registries

Use a model registry to manage versions, approvals, and rollbacks with auditable history.

How the Algorithm Works

Promotion

1. Candidate registered with metrics
2. Offline checks → pre-prod tests
3. Approval → staged deploy

Rollback

1. Detect SLO breach
2. Flip to previous version
3. File incident and root cause analysis

Deprecation

1. Mark superseded versions
2. Archive artifacts with retention policy

Best Practices

Checklist

• Version all artifacts and link lineage
• Define promotion gates and KPIs
• Maintain rollback procedures
• Secure artifacts and enforce access control
• Audit approvals and changes

Anti-Patterns

• Unversioned datasets or configs
• Manual ad-hoc promotions
• No rollback plan
• Leaking PII in logs
• Missing audits and lineage

Worked Examples

Register → Staging

# Register artifacts and link datasets/configs

Staging → Production

# Approvals and deploy with canary

Rollback

# Trigger on SLO breach and revert

Implementation

Registries

• Stage transitions: None → Staging → Production
• Approvals and lineage

Artifact Store

• Immutable storage with checksums
• Signed artifacts and access control

APIs

• Promote, rollback, deprecate endpoints
• Audit hooks and webhooks

The Math Behind It

SemVer for Models

Major.minor.patch communicates compatibility and risk of change across interfaces and features.

Compatibility

Define matrices across data schemas, features, and serving endpoints to minimize integration risk.

Risk

Use acceptance thresholds and confidence intervals to gate promotions.