From DevEx Disaster to Delight: How to Champion a DevEx Revolution in Your Organization
A presentation at JFrog SwampUp 2024 in in Austin, TX, USA by Jeremy Meiss
From DevEx Disaster to Delight How to Champion a DevEx Revolution in Your Organization Jeremy Meiss Director, Developer Relations
What we’re going to cover ● ● ● ● What is Developer Experience (DevEx)? The impact of Good (and Bad) DevEx Strategies for improving DevEx Becoming the DevEx Champion you always dreamed of being
DevEx disasters…
DevEx misses… ● Poorly documented features (or bugs)
DevEx misses… ● Poorly documented features (or bugs) ● Missing OpenAPI spec, or even an API
DevEx misses… ● Poorly documented features (or bugs) ● Missing OpenAPI spec, or even an API ● Downloading documentation… as a PDF, or access-gated
DevEx misses… ● ● ● ● Poorly documented features (or bugs) Missing OpenAPI spec, or even an API Downloading documentation… as a PDF, or access-gated Missing examples… of anything
DevEx misses… ● ● ● ● ● Poorly documented features (or bugs) Missing OpenAPI spec, or even an API Downloading documentation… as a PDF, or access-gated Missing examples… of anything “CI as Magic 8-Ball”
What is Developer Experience (DevEx)?
DevEx is more than just your parent’s SDLC
Developer Experience != Developer Productivity
DevEx also isn’t new REF: F. Fagerholm and J. Münch, “Developer experience: Concept and definition,” 2012 International Conference on Software and System Process (ICSSP), Zurich, Switzerland, 2012.
DevEx also isn’t new REF: F. Fagerholm and J. Münch, “Developer experience: Concept and definition,” 2012 International Conference on Software and System Process (ICSSP), Zurich, Switzerland, 2012. “New ways of working such as globally distributed development or the integration of self-motivated external developers into software ecosystems will require a better and more comprehensive understanding of developers’ feelings, perceptions, motivations and identification with their tasks in their respective project environments.”
DevEx also isn’t new REF: F. Fagerholm and J. Münch, “Developer experience: Concept and definition,” 2012 International Conference on Software and System Process (ICSSP), Zurich, Switzerland, 2012. “…developer experience could be defined as a means for capturing how developers think and feel about their activities within their working environments, with the assumption that an improvement of the developer experience has positive impacts on characteristics such as sustained team and project performance.”
A working definition of DevEx “…the journey of developers as they learn and deploy technology, which if successful, focuses on eliminating obstacles that hinder a developer or practitioner from achieving success in their endeavors.” -Jessica West, Co-Founder, DevEx Institute
DevEx includes every interaction a developer/ops practitioner has with systems, tools, and processes
Key aspects of DevEx 1. ● ● ● Tools & Automation Code editors Version control system Deployment pipelines
Key aspects of DevEx 1. 2. ● ● Tools & Automation Development Environment Setup Streamlined onboarding (i.e. IDPs) Consistent configurations
Key aspects of DevEx 1. 2. 3. ● ● ● Tools & Automation Development Environment Setup Documentation, documentation Clear, up-to-date documentation Easy access to resources, trainings Regular team audits
Key aspects of DevEx 1. 2. 3. 4. ● ● ● Tools & Automation Development Environment Setup Documentation, documentation Collaboration & Communication Efficient communication channels Knowledge-sharing platforms Code reviews
Key aspects of DevEx 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. ● ● ● Tools & Automation Development Environment Setup Documentation, documentation Collaboration & Communication Culture & Feedback Positive work environment People and culture before tools Opportunities for feedback and growth
The Impact of DevEx
Impact of poor DevEx 1. ● ● ● Increased development time and costs Repetitive tasks Inefficient tools Constant firefighting
Impact of poor DevEx 1. 2. ● ● ● ● Increased development time and costs Lower code quality and frequent bugs Lack of proper testing Poor collaboration Rushed development cycles Delayed releases
Impact of poor DevEx 1. 2. 3. ● ● ● Increased development time and costs Lower code quality and frequent bugs High developer turnover Frustration with development environment Lack of growth opportunities Burnout
Impact of poor DevEx 1. 2. 3. 4. ● ● Increased development time and costs Lower code quality and frequent bugs High developer turnover Stagnant innovation and missed opportunities Focus on fixing issues rather than building new Loss of competitive edge
Benefits of good DevEx 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Increased productivity and faster development cycles Improved code quality and fewer bugs Reduced developer burnout and higher morale Attracting + retaining top talent Foster a sense of ownership and accountability Improved collaboration and communication Accelerated time-to-market + stronger competitive advantage + increased customer satisfaction
Strategies for improving DevEx
Improving DevEx in your organization
- Foster a positive culture 2. Streamline the workflow(s)
Improving DevEx: Fostering a positive culture Clear and concise documentation ● Encourage knowledge sharing ● Create easily accessible resources to reduce toil + empower Promote collaboration and communication ● Facilitate code reviews ● Implement comms to foster teamwork + problem solving Champion well-being and growth ● Encourage feedback, up and down ● Recognize achievements ● Create a sense of belonging
Improving DevEx: Streamline the workflow Tools and Automation ● Explore tools which are highly regarded in your field ● Automate repetitive tasks wherever possible
Improving DevEx: Streamline the workflow Tools and Automation ● Explore tools which are highly regarded in your field ● Automate repetitive tasks wherever possible Standardize environment setup ● Use config management tools ● Streamline onboarding for all team members Examples:
Becoming the DevEx Champion you’ve always dreamed of
Championing DevEx in your organization ● Start small, build momentum - Identify low-hanging fruit - Focus on areas of greatest pain - Celebrate small wins
Championing DevEx in your organization ● Start small, build momentum ● Get buy-in from key stakeholders - Communicate the benefits - Involve key decision-makers in the solution - Build a coalition of allies
Championing DevEx in your organization ● Start small, build momentum ● Get buy-in from key stakeholders ● Develop a DevEx champion network - Identify passionate individuals - Create a community of practice - Foster a culture of continuous improvement
Championing DevEx in your organization ● Start small, build momentum ● Get buy-in from key stakeholders ● Develop a DevEx champion network ● Be prepared to advocate for DevEx improvements - Data driven - Address concerns and objections - Be persistent, persuasive - Offer solutions, not just problems
“DevEx is ruthlessly eliminating whatever prevents your developers (and practitioners) from being successful” -Me
THANK YOU jmeiss.me hachyderm.io/@jerdog linkedin.com/in/jeremymeiss
Is your team drowning in a sea of bugs, clunky tools, and morale-sapping processes? Are you tired of hearing them utter phrases like “I hate this deployment process” and “This codebase is a crime against humanity”? Well, fret no more! This talk will be your guide to transforming your organization’s Developer Experience (DevEx) from a disaster zone to a developer utopia. We’ll delve into the what, why, and how of DevEx, exploring practical strategies you can implement to make your developers’ lives easier and more productive. We’ll cover everything from tooling and automation to fostering a culture of collaboration and feedback. By the end of this talk, you’ll be armed with the knowledge and practical tips to become a DevEx champion in your organization, all while avoiding the wrath of your CTO (hopefully). So buckle up, grab your favorite stress ball (you might need it), and get ready to learn how to turn your developer frowns upside down!
Buzz and feedback
Here’s what was said about this presentation on social media.
