The DevOps Handbook - Create Organizational Learning

Non-functional Req.

Incorporating non-functional requirements into system design is crucial for enhancing operational performance. Alan Underwood explains that when developers are accountable for incidents, applications are designed with better operational capabilities, such as faster deployment and improved reliability 1. Michael Outlaw adds that non-functional requirements include metrics, telemetry, and the ability to trace requests, which are often overlooked but essential for troubleshooting 1.

Non-functionals are all the stuff that you want to do that your boss doesn't want you to do.

--- Joe Zack

By focusing on these aspects, systems become more robust and easier to maintain, ultimately benefiting the entire organization.

   

Shared Repo

Maintaining a single shared code repository can significantly enhance consistency and collaboration across an organization. Alan Underwood highlights Google's approach, where a single repository includes not just code, but also configuration standards, deployment tools, and testing standards 2. This strategy ensures that all engineers work with the latest code, reducing dependency issues and improving efficiency 3.

By building everything off a single source tree, you eliminate the problems you encounter when you use external dependency management systems.

--- Alan Underwood

However, Michael Outlaw notes that this approach requires careful planning and agreement on workflows to avoid potential challenges 3.

   

Build Systems

Efficient build systems are essential for large organizations to ensure fast and reliable software development. Michael Outlaw discusses the importance of using tools like Bazel, which optimize build processes by understanding dependencies and changes 4. This approach minimizes the time and resources needed for builds, making it ideal for companies with extensive codebases 5.

If you build from source, you have exactly what it is that you need.

--- Alan Underwood

While this method is not suitable for every organization, it offers significant advantages for those that can implement it effectively.