title: force.com ISV development, deployment, support
body: <p>We're an ISV that's completed our first app on force.com. It's an xRM-like app with extended workflow to build out complex campaigns (not simple marketing-like campaigns) and integration with on-premise software. The platform brings enormous value, and at the same time some challenges. Interested in other ISV experiences around the following:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Application upgrade process. Customers expect cloud app upgrade to "just happen". Reality is that there's inevitable manual pre- and post-upgrade steps that can fill many pages. We don't want to burden the customer with this, and at the same time while we're happy to do the upgrade work for the customer, we don't want access to customer data and the need for elaborate security assurances that come along with that access. A conundrum.</p></li>
  <li><p>Development environment. Agile/scrum development relies on achieving full test automation and continuous integration, yet full automation beyond unit test seems difficult or impossible.</p></li>
  <li><p>Background processing. Constraints on scheduled jobs, callouts, and futures, and issues with transaction management present challenges to traditional software development.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Curious what other ISVs have found.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>