You Build it, YOU Run it

In this post, we will delve into the meaning of "you build it, you run it" and how it can impact collaboration. I will also outline the benefits of using this approach for both the development team and the company as a whole.

Exploring the Meaning and Benefits of "You Build It, You Run It" in Devops

Today, I want to discuss a key devops principle: "you build it, you run it" and its impact on collaboration. According to Donovan Brown via Bryan Finster, devops is “DevOps is the union of people, process, and products to enable continuous delivery of value to our end users. " While I would replace "products" with "technology," this is a great description of devops. In my opinion, devops is a way to achieve continuous delivery, but it is not the only way. Collaboration is at the heart of devops thinking and is essential for achieving continuous delivery.

There are several pros to using the "you build it, you run it" approach in devops:

  • Stronger sense of ownership: When the development team is responsible for operating their own software, they are more invested in its success and have a stronger sense of ownership over their work.
  • Better understanding of the production environment: By being involved in the operation of their software, the development team gains a better understanding of the production environment in which it is hosted. This allows them to anticipate and address potential issues more effectively.
  • Increased collaboration: The "you build it, you run it" approach promotes collaboration between the development and operations teams, as they are working together to ensure the success of the software.
  • Improved efficiency: When the development team is responsible for operating their own software, they can make changes and updates more quickly and efficiently, as they do not have to rely on the operations team to implement them.
  • Enhanced quality: By being involved in the operation of their software, the development team can identify and address issues more quickly, leading to improved software quality.

Continuous delivery is the practice of maintaining our software system in a releasable state. This allows us to spot problems early on and address them before they become major issues. By tracking our system's usage, we can identify trends and anticipate changes in demand. This helps us prepare for increased capacity or scalability.

In addition to the benefits for the development team outlined above, there are several reasons why companies should consider using the “you build it, you run it” approach in their devops practices.

  1. Faster time to market: When the development team is responsible for operating their own software, they are able to make changes and updates more quickly, leading to faster time to market.

  2. Cost savings: By eliminating the need for a separate operations team, companies can save on personnel costs and other expenses.

  3. Improved efficiency: With the development team directly responsible for operating their software, there is less need for communication and coordination between teams, leading to improved efficiency.

  4. Enhanced agility: The “you build it, you run it” approach allows companies to quickly respond to changing business needs and pivot as necessary.

  5. Increased reliability: When the development team is closely involved in the operation of their software, they are able to identify and address issues more quickly, leading to increased reliability.

Overall, the “you build it, you run it” approach can help companies achieve faster time to market, cost savings, improved efficiency, enhanced agility, and increased reliability. It is an effective way to achieve continuous delivery and produce better software faster.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the devops principle of "you build it, you run it" promotes collaboration and helps the development team understand and control the production environment. This enables continuous delivery and the production of better software faster. The "you build it, you run it" approach in devops can lead to increased ownership, understanding of the production environment, collaboration, efficiency, and quality.

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