Best Practices
Stability vs. Productivity
Goal: Balance system stability with developer productivity.
Exploratory coding: Temporary code for problem exploration; not meant for production.
Production systems: Prioritize stability, but reliable processes should also enhance productivity.
Faster bug detection and fixes in reliable systems.
Focus on system performance and functionality.
Boring = Good
In software, "boring" systems are predictable and stable.
Essential complexity: Unavoidable complexity inherent to a problem.
Accidental complexity: Extra complexity introduced by poor design choices (e.g., Java's garbage collection in a web server).
SRE's job: Minimize accidental complexity.
Eliminate Dead Code
Unused code = Liability
Creates confusion and increases the risk of bugs.
Negative lines of code: Removing unnecessary code can be more valuable than adding features.
Smaller codebase = Easier to maintain and understand.
Minimal APIs
Fewer methods and arguments = Easier to use and maintain.
Simplicity in API design improves focus on core functionality.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery quote: "Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
Modularity
Loose coupling = Flexibility and scalability.
Independent updates to system components minimize disruption.
Apply to distributed systems and APIs.
Versioning APIs allows for smooth upgrades without breaking dependencies.
Modular systems help manage growing complexity.
Simple Releases
Releases should be incremental—small batches, not big ones.
Easier to test and troubleshoot.
If many changes are released together, it’s harder to track down the cause of any issues.
Incremental releases = more control, faster progress.
Key Points to Remember
Simplicity = Reliability: Keeping things simple helps ensure systems are more reliable.
Boring is good: Predictable, stable systems are the goal.
Focus on clarity: Eliminate unnecessary code and complexity.
Minimalism in design: Smaller APIs and modular systems are easier to maintain and scale.
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