MenderCon 2021 - Keynote
1 like118 views
The document discusses platform migrations through the metaphor of the built environment, highlighting the complexities and unique challenges of software development compared to traditional construction. It illustrates lessons learned from historical cases, such as raising Chicago and Galveston after floods, and emphasizes the importance of having a migration plan while maintaining operations during transitions. Key takeaways stress reviewing consequences, considering opportunity costs, and the continuous nature of both digital and physical environments.
MenderCon 2021 - Keynote
- 3. Platform Migrations What can we learn by using the world around us as a metaphor?
- 4. Repeating Problem Platforms need to change frequently
- 5. Some Examples • Web app: Python 2.7 to 3.x upgrades • Java web app: Apache Struts 1.x to Spring Boot 2.x • Java web app: Play 1.x to Spring Boot 2.x • Rails web app: upgrade to a version that’s still receiving security updates • Windows desktop app: Win32 to WinUI • Linux desktop app: X11 to Wayland • macOS desktop app: Cocoa to SwiftUI
- 6. Typical Approach Video Source: https://www.pexels.com/video/video-of-building-collapsing-855464/
- 8. Building Construction Metaphor • Used as justification for traditional engineering practices • Big up front design • Extremely detailed plans and strict time lines • Often discredited • Does not match well with software development • Assembling the building is most similar to compiling source code • Fails to capture the difference between complicated and complex
- 9. Where does building construction fit? Complicated • Lots of similarities between projects • Consistency drives progress • Lots of room for process optimization • Relies on pre-existing materials • Leverages experience gained from past projects Complex • Each project is unique • Experimentation drives progress • Process optimization limits creativity • Materials have to be invented • Past experience is not a good predictor of future success
- 10. Demolition Is it as simple as rm –rf (or Remove-Item –Recurse –Force)?
- 11. Overlooked Aspects • Migration • Cleanup • Loss of use • Time Impact • Opportunity Cost Demolition Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/ivHVZCmm5wY
- 12. A Better Metaphor? The Built Environment
- 13. The Built Environment Imagine your city Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/dqgVnnRzPio
- 14. The Built Environment Zoom out and look at it Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/wLzX0juwGRg
- 16. The Built Environment Properties • Behaves like an organism • Changing constantly • Never stops operating • Complete disruptions are not tolerated
- 17. Mapping The Built Environment • Structures • Surfaces • Utilities The Digital Environment • Applications • Protocols • Information
- 18. Change is a Constant The world around us is constantly changing and remaking itself
- 19. Real Life Platform Migration Video Source: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/shanghai-relocate-building-preservation-intl-hnk-scli/index.html
- 20. Platform Migrations What can we learn from the built environment?
- 21. Raising Chicago, IL – 1850s-1860s Frequent standing water creates a health crisis
- 22. Raising Chicago, IL – 1850s-1860s Problem • Standing water causing disease • Frequently flooded streets • Vehicles getting stuck in the mud Solution • Add sewers and create a path for water to drain • Lift several city blocks over 4 feet (1.22 meters) • Add filler to raise “ground” height Image Source: https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2017/08/raising-chicago-streets-out-of-mud-in.html
- 23. Raising Chicago, IL – 1850s-1860s • Many buildings were lifted while in use • One hotel patron is quoted as only noticing that the building was higher because the steps were steeper when they left the building • Some building owners took the opportunity to relocate buildings, while occupied • Newspaper stories contain quotes of people commenting that they had to wait for buildings to cross the street Image Source: https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2017/08/raising-chicago-streets-out-of-mud-in.html
- 24. Raising Galveston, TX – 1900s Hurricane decimates island community
- 25. Raising Galveston, TX – 1900s Category 4 hurricane • Much of the city was destroyed or in ruins • Survivors wanted to rebuild and defend against future storms Solution • Construct seawall • Raised almost 500 city blocks by 8 to 17 feet (2.44 to 5.18 meters) • Add filler to raise the “ground” height Image Source: https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/slideshow/The-1900-Storm-in-Galveston-69849/photo-5159270.php
- 26. Raising Galveston, TX – 1900s Raised house shown before and after fill is added Image Source: https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/grade-raising
- 27. Raising Galveston, TX – 1900s • Many buildings were lifted while in use • Temporary elevated sidewalks were added in some residential areas • The entire project took almost a decade – work was completed in 1911 • Galveston hit by another hurricane in 1909 – first major test of the new seawall Image Source: https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/g-59262-ff1-6
- 28. Indianapolis, IN - 1930 Indiana Bell office building moved and rotated while in use
- 29. Indiana Bell Building - 1930 • Wanted to better utilize surface area of the city block • Original plan was to demolish the building and construct a bigger one • Most of the regions phone lines ran through the building Image Source: https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/g-59262-ff1-6
- 30. Indiana Bell Building - 1930 • Building remained operational • Employees continued to report to work • Customers continued to visit • All utilities remained hooked up and operational • Process took about a month to complete Video Source: https://twistedsifter.com/2021/03/1930- indiana-bell-building-move/
- 31. Indiana Bell Building - 1930 • New building was constructed next to the old one once the move was complete
- 33. Lessons from the Built Environment • Review the consequences • Have a migration plan • Consider continuing to operate while moving • Include opportunity cost when calculating return on investment
- 36. How Pitch Session Works
- 38. Join Legacy Code Rocks https://legacycode.rocks
- 39. M. SCOTT FORD CO-FOUNDER & CEO scott@corgibytes.com @mscottford in/mscottford