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Secrets to Continuous Performance In DevOps

May 30, 2023 | Episode

What does continuous performance look like within modern software development and in a DevOps world? Learn from experts Lee Barnes & Scott Moore. You’ll find out how to properly shift-left the performance testing efforts, how to operate performance in a continuous way, and how to scale that within a DevOps culture.

In today’s fast-paced software development world, speed and reliability are king. Enter Continuous Performance – a game-changing strategy that’s revolutionizing how we approach software quality. Gone are the days of last-minute performance tests; it’s all about baking performance into every step of the development process. Let’s dive into this exciting shift and explore how it’s transforming the way we build and deliver software.

The Evolution of Performance Testing

Remember when performance testing was that nail-biting final hurdle before release? Scott Moore, in a recent SMC Journal podcast, highlighted how this approach often led to rushed fixes or delayed launches. Not ideal, right?

That’s where Continuous Performance comes in. It’s not just about running tests more often – it’s a whole new mindset.

What Continuous Performance Really Means

Lee Barnes, a veteran in the field, dropped some truth bombs about Continuous Performance. It’s not just automating old-school tests in your CI/CD pipeline. The magic lies in knowing what to test and how to make sense of the results at every stage.

Shifting Left: More Than Just a Buzzword

“Shift left” is the name of the game in Continuous Performance. But Barnes warns against a superficial approach. Dumping performance data on developers without context? That’s a recipe for frustration.

Lessons from the Trenches

So, how do we make Continuous Performance work? Barnes shared some golden nuggets:

  1. Start Small, Think Big: Kick off with one team or component. Learn, adapt, then scale.
  2. Team Up: Performance engineers should be coaches, not gatekeepers. Collaborate with devs to demystify performance issues.
  3. Break It Down: Forget massive system tests in short sprints. Focus on components and APIs for quicker, more targeted feedback.
  4. Trend is Your Friend: Early on, worry less about hitting exact numbers. Look for performance trends – are you moving in the right direction?
  5. Embrace “Good Enough”: Perfect requirements can wait. Start with “performance factors” – ballpark figures to get the ball rolling.

Rethinking the Center of Excellence

Barnes challenged the traditional Performance Testing Center of Excellence model. For big enterprises, embedding performance experts within delivery teams often works better. It’s about scaling knowledge and responsibility.

Culture Shift, Not Just Tools

Here’s the kicker: Continuous Performance isn’t just about fancy tools or processes. It’s a mindset shift. It’s about building a culture where everyone – from devs to QA to ops – thinks about performance from day one.

Real-World Impact

Implementing Continuous Performance isn’t just theory – it’s transforming how companies deliver software. Faster releases, fewer surprises, happier users. What’s not to love?

Getting Started

Ready to jump on the Continuous Performance bandwagon? Start small, focus on collaboration, and keep iterating. Remember, every step towards continuous performance is a step towards better software.

Wrapping Up

Continuous Performance is more than a trend – it’s the future of software development. By integrating performance considerations throughout the development lifecycle, we’re not just building faster software; we’re building better software, period.

So, are you ready to embrace the flow of Continuous Performance? Your users (and your stress levels) will thank you.

Check out this other SMC Journal Episode about shifting performance left.

Show Notes

Lee Barnes Twitter: @USI_LeeBarnes
Forte Group: Fortegrp.com

GUEST: Lee Barnes, Chief Quality Officer at Forte Group
LINKEDIN PROFILE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leebarnes/

Continuous Performance presentation at Inflectracon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ffotEzYYkc

Original Slides: https://www.slideshare.net/qaoth/continuous-performance-testing-in-devops-lee-barnes

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