Upload
tomer-gabel
View
738
Download
4
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Over the last couple of years the term "DevOps" has become so ridiculously overloaded: an industry trend, a cultural shift, a set of methodologies, a set of tools, an organizational function, ad infinitum. Over the last few years I've gone through a circuitous journey through different roles and functions within several R&D organizations, and would love to share my perceptions on DevOps from a software developer's perspective -- and maybe provide a few insights into how it could be done better. A talk given at Reversim Summit 2014 on 25 February, 2014, video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Cz-dTcgTY&list=PLp33GadmS4eW5tlupTkS2uzSb024ig1iB&index=45
Citation preview
DevOps ReduxTomer Gabel, Wix
Reversim Summit 2014
Full disclosure• These are my
personal observations• They do not represent
my past or current employers’
• And they may be entirely wrong– I welcome debate! – Catch me after the talk
ANECDOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
What shall we talk about?
STORY OF MY LIFEAnecdote #1
… in the beginning• I’ve been programming since forever
• … but also interested in hardware, IT…
• … and esoterica
Enter: Delver• Where I was
happily banging at code
Enter: Delver• Where I was
happily banging at code– and at production
systems at 3AM
Enter: Delver• Where I was
happily banging at code– and at production
systems at 3AM– every single day
Enter: Delver• Where I was
happily banging at code– and at production
systems at 3AM– every single day
• Net result:– Complete burnout
Dramatic Pause• Next thing you
know…
The Reveal• Next thing you
know…• This happens
• Product pivots ensue…
• Product pivots ensue some more…
Until finally…• I couldn’t face another product pivot
• I was left with two options:– Leave the company– Do something radically different
An experiment
• So it turns out I actually did a lot of…– Production
debugging– IT infrastructure– Software
infrastructure– Automation
An experiment
• So it turns out I actually did a lot of…– Production debugging– IT infrastructure– Software infrastructure– Automation
… and liked it!
An experiment
• This was early 2009– DevOps wasn’t a
“thing” yet• I had free rein to
define my own job– And buy-in from our
terrific VPs R&D, Ops
– Thanks, guys!
An experiment• What I ended up
doing:– Specifications for
monitoring, logging– Deployment
automation– Production support
• Sharing more responsibility with R&D
ENGINEERING IS ENGINEERING IS ENGINEERING
Observation #1
DevOps is at its best• … when
software engineers develop an operational bent • … when system
administrators dig code
QUESTIONS SO FAR?
Anecdote #2• A recruiter once asked me,
– “How should I hire DevOps people?”• To which I replied…
Anecdote #2• A recruiter once asked me,
– “How should I hire DevOps people?”• To which I replied…
– “Just stick DevOps in the title. They will come.”
Something wondrous happens• DevOps becomes a
thing!• Easier to explain
– Others have already done it better
• Easier to hire– You’re early out the
gate
But then…
Remember back, oh, five years?• QA was considered R&D’s idiot kid brother
– I don’t think that’s the case– But it was, and to a degree still is, the
conception– At least in Israel
• It became hard to hire for QA– The candidate pool was saturated– … and ill-chosen
It’s kinda the same• Everyone needs “DevOps” these days• But as it gains mainstream
acceptance…– Viable candidates are long gone– Recruiting can no longer meet demand– HR agencies are left with one option:
artificially increase the pool
Recap• The best DevOps engineers are already
taken.
• But you need them anyway. How to get them?
• A more compelling question is:– “How should I hire DevOps people who
don’t know what DevOps is?”
Recruiting 101• Should we aim
for…
Recruiting 101• Should we aim
for…sysadmins?
Recruiting 101• Should we aim for…
sysadmins?• Probably not
– Too focused on infrastructure, IT
– Software eng. and architecture skills needed
Recruiting 101• Should we aim for…
Recruiting 101• Should we aim for…
software engineers?
Recruiting 101• Probably not.
– Technology requirements too specific– Solely focused on software
development
Recruiting 101• Maybe we should throw in the towel?
Recruiting 101• Maybe we should throw in the towel?
– and aim for DevOps
Recruiting 101• Maybe we should throw in the towel?
– and aim for DevOps• Won’t work.
– Only applies toseniors
– Who are alreadytaken
YOU CAN’T HIRE FOR DEVOPS BECAUSE
DEVOPS IS NOT A ROLE
Observation #2
Explain yourself, sir!
• Conway’s law, my interpretation:“Software architecture inevitably reflects the structure and process of the organization that spawned it.”
Kicking the hornet’s nest
• Likewise,“System infrastructure inevitably reflects the structure and process of the R&D organization it supports.”
Getting to the point• Architecture and DevOps aren’t roles• But rather, different views of the
organization• Both try to model your organization
as it applies to their respective domains
• In other words, they’re aspects
ANY OF THESE FAMILIAR?Let’s play a game
Any of these familiar?• This is Shirley.• She’s on the QA
team.• She’s got a real
knack for spotting blockers
• Especially just before, during or after a deployment
Any of these familiar?• This is Ruth.• She leads the back-
end team.• She knows her Unix
and can handle the production servers better than anyone.
Any of these familiar?• This is John.• He’s the badass team
lead across the hall.• When shit hits the fan,
he’s always on-board• And is single-mindedly
determined to get back up and running
What’s in common?• Every organization has such people• They perform one or more DevOps
functions• In other words, you already have
DevOps in your organization• Does it merit a specialized position?
Observation #2, epilogue• Don’t hire DevOps. Train them.• You’re looking for smart juniors
– You already know how to spot them– Challenge them with real responsibility
and watch them grow– Water frequently– Profit
Takeaways• Engineering is engineering is
engineering– Same skills, different perspectives
• DevOps is not a role– It’s incredibly hard to hire DevOps…– Because we’re doing it wrong– Focus on the operational challenge, not the
title
QUESTIONS?
Thank you for your time!• I love me some
feedback!– Lively debate always
welcome– Hate mail is cool too
• Get in touch:– @tomerg– [email protected]
m