what we can learn about devops from science fiction: ignite format

WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT DEVOPS FROM

SCIENCE FICTIONDawn M. Foster

Community  Lead  at  Puppet  Labs@geekygirldawn

dawn@puppetlabs.com  

WHOAMI

• Geek, traveler, reader

• Recovered sys admin, community & open source

• Read 73 books last year, mostly sci-fi / fantasy

• I keep a list:http://fastwonderblog.com/about/reading/

Photos by Josh Bancroft, Don Park

ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE

The Doctor and companions

work together

like Ops and Devs

CONTROL ISSUES

Work together as equals,

give up control and

share responsibility

DISTRIBUTE RESPONSIBILITIES

More people having access helps

avoid single points of failure,

but still limit potential for destruction

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Understand changes and

take one step at a time

AUTOMATE ALL THE THINGS

Automate the tedious tasks

and have time for the fun stuff

MANAGE GROWTH

Use automation and

configuration management tools to

easily spin up large numbers of systems

MONITOR AND MEASURE

Monitor and measure

as much as possible to track progress

for performance, processes and people

DON’T CREATE MONSTERS

Create a culture where

developers and ops

both avoid short cuts that

create new infrastructure monsters

DELEGATE TO MINIONS

Delegate the grunt work

to automation tools

(if you don’t have minions)

Thanks to Dave Zwieback aka @mindweather for suggesting a Gru and the minions reference.

LAWS OF ROBOTICS

Use configuration management systems

with rules to control

infrastructure behavior

REDSHIRTS ARE EXPENDABLE

Treat your servers

like redshirts

Side note: read John Scalzi’s ‘Redshirts’

BORG COLLECTIVES

Each component is

just one part of a

complete system

“EVERYTHING WE DO OUT HERE IS A RISK!”

Everything has risk

find ways to manage risk

while still getting shit done

Thanks to Mike M aka @xyntrix for suggesting this SGU risk quote, 'Everything we do out here is a risk!'

SHARE USEFUL SKILLS

Learn and share new ideas

with the rest of the team

MENTORING

Train the next generation

and help others succeed

STRONG WOMEN

Encourage women in our field

and get more women

speaking at our events

DON’T PANIC

Things will go wrong

keep things in perspective

calmly recover

THANK YOUContact  info:  Dawn  Foster

@geekygirldawndawn@puppetlabs.comfastwonderblog.com

Some of my favorite modern sci-fi / fantasy authors:Hugh Howey

Lois McMaster BujoldBrandon Sanderson

Connie Willis