DevopsUK
DevopsUK
You Build it you run it
What is "You Build It You Run It"
As a DevOps engineer, one of the principles that I live by is "build it, you run it." This principle, which was first coined by Werner Vogels, the CTO of Amazon, emphasizes the importance of ownership and accountability in software development. In a traditional software development model, developers are responsible for building the code, while a separate operations team is responsible for deploying and running it in production. This separation of responsibilities can lead to communication breakdowns and a lack of ownership over the entire software development lifecycle. On the other hand, the "build it, you run it" principle promotes a collaborative approach to software development, where developers are responsible for both building and running their code in production. This means that developers have a deeper understanding of the entire system and can make more informed decisions about how to build and maintain it. In practice, this means that developers must have a thorough understanding of the production environment and the potential impact of their code on it. They must also be proactive in monitoring and troubleshooting their code once it's in production. Adopting the "build it, you run it" principle has numerous benefits for both development and operations teams. It encourages collaboration and shared ownership, which can lead to more efficient and effective software development. It also allows for a more agile and iterative approach to software development, as developers can quickly deploy and test their code in production. Overall, "build it, you run it" is an important principle for any DevOps engineer to understand and embrace. It promotes a culture of accountability and collaboration, which can lead to more successful and reliable software development.
The "build it, you run it" principle, which emphasizes the importance of ownership and accountability in software development, has both pros and cons. One of the main benefits of this principle is that it encourages collaboration and shared ownership between development and operations teams. Developers have a deeper understanding of the entire system and can make more informed decisions about how to build and maintain it. This can lead to more efficient and effective software development. Another benefit is that the "build it, you run it" principle allows for a more agile and iterative approach to software development. Developers can quickly deploy and test their code in production, which can speed up the development process and lead to faster time-to-market. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to this principle. For example, developers may not have the necessary expertise or experience to properly manage and maintain the code they build in production. This can lead to problems such as unreliable or poorly performing code. In addition, the "build it, you run it" principle may not be suitable for organizations with complex or large-scale systems. In these cases, it may be more effective to have separate development and operations teams, each with specialized expertise and responsibility for different parts of the software development lifecycle. Overall, the pros and cons of the "build it, you run it" principle depend on the specific context and needs of the organization. It can be a powerful approach to software development, but it's important to carefully consider its potential drawbacks and ensure that it's the right fit for your organization
Conclusion
In conclusion, the "build it, you run it" principle is an important concept in DevOps that emphasizes the importance of ownership and accountability in software development. By adopting this principle, organizations can foster collaboration and shared ownership between development and operations teams, leading to more efficient and effective software development. However, it's important to carefully consider the potential drawbacks of this approach and ensure that it's the right fit for your organization's specific needs.