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So today, I want to talk about moving fast and making things. We've already heard a little bit about services and other things that you end up doing when you reach a point where your application is too large and has become unwieldy.
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Many people in the community are looking for ways to handle large software. How do we deal with a Rails app when it becomes really huge? What can unit testing, object-oriented design, and even other programming languages offer us when we get to the point of working with large teams and large software?
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I've been thinking about that problem, and I believe that in addition to the strategies we can apply directly with code, there are some ideas we can leverage to approach this issue from multiple angles instead of relying solely on unit tests or design techniques.
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Part of the challenge with large applications is that they become time-intensive, and time is the one resource none of us can produce, buy, or have enough of. The real bummer about time is that it is inherently linear; it only ever goes forward. We can only spend it, and we cannot gain more. Therefore, we need to determine how we can accomplish more with the time we do have. This involves asking ourselves how we can create more programs, get more done with our teammates, or produce more products within any given timeframe.
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Additionally, we must consider how to prioritize our tasks effectively. Working smarter involves not only avoiding distractions, like checking Facebook all the time, but also evaluating whether the activity we are engaged in has sufficient value to justify its continuation. For instance, is maintaining a specific portion of our test suite yielding enough benefit to warrant the time spent on it? If not, perhaps we should reconsider that investment.
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We want to move fast, which involves a sense of progress and productivity. Part of this feeling comes from knowing we are getting things done, shipping more code and products, or even creating documentation for other developers. Every unit of work that contributes to our goals is significant, as it helps us move forward.
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Another aspect of moving fast is breaking down large challenges into manageable tasks that we can realistically tackle in a reasonable timeframe. We all have projects or applications we work on regularly, and there are often pet projects or features we aspire to add, as well as performance bottlenecks we wish to eliminate. However, these can seem daunting due to the size of the application or the complexity of the product, causing us to justify not pursuing them.
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To move fast, we need to figure out how to break these big challenges into smaller, actionable tasks that we can start now and gain some benefits from. As I mentioned before, moving quickly also means ensuring we are doing the right things. If we are trying to meet deadlines or ship code, we should avoid distractions like checking Twitter or chatting casually. Furthermore, we should not struggle with our tools or the code itself. We should not question the purpose of certain parts of our codebase or the processes that require us to do cumbersome tasks like squashing commits.
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We also want to focus on creating things and solving risks. The challenges involved in software development often encompass various uncertainties: we won't know how long tasks will take, what problems may arise, or where complexities may reside within the code. To address these risks effectively, we need to identify them, determine how to work around them, schedule time for more thorough solutions, or decide that some problems do not require our attention, as others have already solved them.
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It's essential to recognize that as software developers, we are asked to create features and eliminate bugs, striving for improvements in speed and performance. We aim to make our applications better and to facilitate change—this is crucial because change is inherent to software; if a problem is static, conventional hardware would suffice. However, most of us work with mature software that is profitable yet requires adaptation to function differently in today's environment.
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Thus, to move fast and produce results, we must understand that large applications resemble living organisms. They have their own desires and resist change, which often becomes our adversary. Large systems demand significant setup time, leading to complicated code bases that require continual revisiting to modify effectively. Large teams result in more processes, creating bureaucratic demands that can stifle progress.
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As software grows, it acquires more requirements and complexities, making them resistant to necessary adaptations. To mitigate this, we should work towards maintaining small components of software that are easier to manage and reason about. We should strive to have small, loosely coupled elements rather than being overwhelmed by vast systems—this facilitates both understanding and productivity.
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In aiming to achieve manageable software structures, the goal is to embrace simplicity and keep things disjointed, allowing us to focus on specific tasks without the anxiety of large, convoluted frameworks. Small teams can operate effectively with fewer rules and automated processes, reducing the risk of becoming distracted by extensive procedures or busywork.
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Moreover, simplifying our code leads to clearer structures, and adaptive systems that can easily accommodate changes over time are desired. A small piece of code can often be understood and modified much quicker than an extensive codebase. When we work with small tools moving forward, we can adapt them as needed without facing overwhelming obstacles.
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To achieve this, we must resist the urge to build large software systems. Effective strategies like dividing and conquering our applications can lead to more manageable designs, much like what companies such as Yammer and GitHub have implemented successfully, identifying and extracting services that can operate independently or separately from the primary application.
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We must also resist using large tools, which often mandate that we conform to their scopes and systems. They can require extensive boilerplate and create friction, making it challenging to work straightforwardly. On the contrary, there are smaller, easier-to-use tools that provide adequate functionality without demanding substantial upfront investments.
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Managing our dependencies is vital to sustaining productivity and minimizing complexity. Software often hinges on how different components relate to one another. Additionally, employing the concept of 'spikes'—prototypes used to explore uncertainties and gather insights—becomes essential. When embarking on a spike, it is crucial to constrain the project scope to the most immediate requirements, enabling focused exploration.
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This technique allows the developer to understand uncertainties in their development process, which will subsequently determine how to approach that development effectively. Spikes help decipher which areas need in-depth attention or refinement. They aim to prevent focus from drifting away from the core problems we aim to resolve.
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In a working environment, discovering the dependencies is equally important. Understanding when to apply specific tools, when to explore alternatives, and when to adapt your development process ensures we leverage the appropriate resources for our development cycles efficiently.
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Understanding the nuances of the tools we use—and their respective value propositions—is also critical. Different tools offer varying levels of complexity and usability. For instance, as a project scales, we may find ourselves benefiting from heretofore considered complicated tools. Conversely, a simple tool may be the best starting point for smaller-scale needs.
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Finally, we should endeavor to create documentation or notes detailing our probability of success versus failure in utilizing specific tools. It is also important to focus on practical uses; opting for tools that intelligently evolve with our systems helps sustain them over time.
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As we focus on building high-leverage tools, we should give more preference to tools like Ruby, Redis, and Nginx that meet our dynamic needs. Tools that are easy to start with often lead to sustainable results without overwhelming us with intricacies.
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Ultimately, maximizing our learning and understanding how to apply that knowledge across a range of functions allows us to remain agile. In the long run, this means any high-leverage tools that facilitate a balance of return on time, investment, and cost are imperative. Finding a good practice to maintain sustainability makes all the difference as we broaden our expertise.
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In summary, fostering a culture of moving fast and creating value is about identifying efficient methodologies while resisting unnecessary complexities in software design. Building sustainable institutions and continuously striving to improve ourselves is key to long-term prosperity.
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Now, let's wrap up with a call to action: keep exploring high-leverage tools, remain inventive, and focus on creating software that produces solid impacts. This approach is crucial for disruption, innovation, and growth in technology.
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I appreciate your time today. Thank you for joining me in this session on moving fast and making things. I hope you found valuable insights and strategies to apply in your work.
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If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out after.
