(AI Gen) Modeling World-Class Delivery Systems
Welcome to, the deep dive. Yeah. Today, we're gonna be exploring a piece by Paul Grady
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Software engineer who's done a lot of stuff. And, one of the things that really intrigued me about his, ideas is that he thinks everyone is a modeler Uh-huh. Whether they realize it or not.
Speaker 2:It's true.
Speaker 1:And, so we're gonna kinda unpack that and apply it to software delivery systems. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think I think that's one of the most interesting things about
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:This piece is that he takes a concept that feels very kind of high level and philosophical
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And really brings it down to earth
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And applies it to something that can be very practical, like Yeah. You know, improving your software development process.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And he did this at Empower Finance. Mhmm. And they had some pretty incredible results.
Speaker 2:Yeah. They did.
Speaker 1:So we're gonna unpack his approach. And I think one of the key things we're gonna focus on today is this idea of decoupling.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And how that can make things smoother and faster.
Speaker 2:It's such a powerful concept. And what's interesting to me is, like you were saying, it's not just limited to software development. Right. Decoupling is something that we see in Yeah. All sorts of areas of life.
Speaker 2:Right. And we can learn a lot from.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So let's get back to that idea that everybody's a modeler.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And what are some examples of that? Sure. Like, that come to mind for you?
Speaker 2:Well, let's think about something like planning a trip.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:You know, you're going on vacation.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You've got a destination in mind. You probably have a budget.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:You have some sort of timeline in mind.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And even if you don't write it all down in a very formal way
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:You're essentially creating a model of
Speaker 1:your
Speaker 2:ideal vacation. Yeah. Right? You're thinking through the
Speaker 1:different steps, the different things that need to happen Oh, yeah.
Speaker 2:And how they all fit together. And it could be even smaller than
Speaker 1:that, even just, like, what
Speaker 2:to wear in the morning.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Like, you have to make all these decisions based on
Speaker 2:So many factors.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:The weather, the occasion, your own personal style.
Speaker 1:Comfort level, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And it's all based on these mental models that we've built up over time Right. About what's appropriate, what looks good, what feels good.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Wow. It it's kinda mind blowing when you really think about it. Like, how how often we're doing this all the time.
Speaker 2:Constantly. And we don't even realize it. Yeah. But these mental models are essential. They're how we make decisions, solve problems, navigate our lives.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So how does Grady take this idea and apply it to software development?
Speaker 2:Well, he starts by looking at the build process.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And he breaks it down into a series of very clear steps.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:You know, you've got compiling, publishing, versioning
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Testing, packaging.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And these steps might seem very basic
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But they're crucial for creating a solid foundation for your software.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And he really emphasizes automation here. Yeah. And he talks about Empower's mainline.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And it's this automated system that just churns out these releases that are ready to go.
Speaker 2:It's like a factory production line Yeah. For software. Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's a great analogy.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And the mainline is a fantastic example of how a clear conceptual model
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Combined with smart automation
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Can completely revolutionize a process.
Speaker 1:And so they were able to drastically reduce their build times Yeah. Which is obviously
Speaker 2:Huge.
Speaker 1:A huge win Yeah. For a software company.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:So we've got this robust build process in place now.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:This is where Grady really throws down the gauntlet.
Speaker 2:He does.
Speaker 1:He says we need to decouple the build process from everything else.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And, honestly, this is like an moment for me when I was reading this.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So can you kinda unpack that a little bit for us? What does that actually mean?
Speaker 2:Sure. So decoupling essentially means
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Creating these independent modules
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:That can function on their own, but also work together seamlessly when they need to.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So it's like building with LEGOs.
Speaker 1:Okay. Right?
Speaker 2:You have all these different blocks.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You can create all sorts of structures.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But each block is still its own distinct entity.
Speaker 1:Got it.
Speaker 2:And Grady's argument is that by decoupling the build process from other stages like deployment
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:You gain a ton of flexibility and control.
Speaker 1:And he mentioned some specific things like minimizing risk.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:On demand deployment, easier disaster recovery.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:All of which sound amazing, but can you kinda give us your take on, like Sure. Why this is such a game changer?
Speaker 2:Well, imagine a scenario where you discover a critical bug
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:In your software right before a major release.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's not good.
Speaker 2:No. It's not. Okay. In a traditional tightly coupled system
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You would have to roll back the entire release.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:Fix the bug, rebuild everything, and then redeploy everything.
Speaker 1:And that sounds like it would take
Speaker 2:It's incredibly time consuming
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And potentially very risky because you're essentially touching everything.
Speaker 1:Right. Right.
Speaker 2:But with a decoupled system
Speaker 1:Alright. You
Speaker 2:can isolate the affected module.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Fix the bug, and then just redeploy that piece without disrupting the rest of the system. So it's kinda like a swapping out a single LEGO brick
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Without having to dismantle the entire structure.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah. So faster fixes
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Reduces the impact of errors. Mhmm. Makes the whole system more resilient.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Yeah. And it also fosters this culture of experimentation and innovation Okay. Because teams can work on new features and test different approaches
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Without fear of breaking the main system.
Speaker 1:That's so cool. I love how this seemingly technical concept Yeah. Can have such profound impact on
Speaker 2:It's true.
Speaker 1:The way teams work
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And the speed at which they can deliver value.
Speaker 2:And this is really just the tip of the iceberg.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:We're gonna dive even deeper into the benefits of decoupling
Speaker 1:Alright.
Speaker 2:And explore how Grady puts all of this into action at Empower Finance.
Speaker 1:I can't wait. Stay tuned as we continue our deep dive into the world of software delivery and explore how these principles can be applied to your own work and projects.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to, the deep dive. Yes. We've been talking about Paul Grady's approach Right. To software delivery. Mhmm.
Speaker 2:And, you know, what's been so fascinating to me is that Yeah. Even though we're talking about software
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:These ideas are so relevant Right. To any kind of complex process, really.
Speaker 1:Totally.
Speaker 2:It's all about those fundamental principles, like building a solid foundation and embracing decoupling.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. So let's get back to Grady's work at Empower Finance. Sure. He talks about how they applied these principles to their deployment process.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And it's really like
Speaker 2:It's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Watching a well choreographed dance.
Speaker 2:It is. He lays it out so clearly. Yeah. You know, from the pre deployment checks to deploying releases through different life cycles Right. All the way to the post deployment activities.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's a comprehensive system that's designed for both speed and safety.
Speaker 1:And it all comes back to that key concept that we talked about earlier.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Decoupling. So by separating that build process from deployment, Empower gained a level of control and flexibility Yeah. That I think would have been
Speaker 2:It would have been impossible.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Impossible. Otherwise.
Speaker 2:Without it
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, it's like having a series of specialized teams
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Each responsible for a specific part of the process. Right. So you've got your builders constructing the software Mhmm. Your testers ensuring its quality, and your deployment specialists actually launching it into the world. Right.
Speaker 2:And they can all work in parallel
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Without stepping on each other's toes.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's amazing. And he actually provides
Speaker 2:He does.
Speaker 1:This really cool visual diagram of
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Empower's deployment pipeline. Yeah. And it's amazing to see how it all fits together.
Speaker 2:It's like the blueprint for perfectly optimized machine.
Speaker 1:Right. And visuals are so powerful because are. It makes these complex systems much easier to grasp.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. You can see the flow, the different stages, how everything connects.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And one specific example that really stuck with me Yeah. Was Grady's story about a feature team
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:That needed a test only life cycle.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So can you walk us through that? Like, why is that kind of flexibility Sure. So valuable?
Speaker 2:Well, imagine you're working on a massive jigsaw puzzle.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Right? And you've almost finished it
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:But you're still searching for those last few pieces.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You wouldn't wanna disrupt the entire puzzle No. Just to try out a potential fit.
Speaker 1:No. Definitely not.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:That would be so frustrating.
Speaker 2:It would be a recipe for disaster.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And similarly, in software development
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Teams often need to experiment and test new features Mhmm. Without impacting the main production environment.
Speaker 1:Right. Right.
Speaker 2:And a test only life cycle provides a dedicated space
Speaker 1:Got it.
Speaker 2:For this kind of experimentation.
Speaker 1:Got
Speaker 2:it. So teams can iterate and refine their work without fear of breaking anything critical.
Speaker 1:So it's like having a separate sandbox
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Where developers can kinda play around and try new things.
Speaker 2:Yeah. A safe space to experiment.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Without disrupting the main game.
Speaker 2:That's a great analogy.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And this kind of flexibility wouldn't be possible without decoupling.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Because by separating the testing environment from the main deployment pipeline Yeah. Empower created a safe and efficient way
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:For teams to innovate and move faster.
Speaker 1:And it prevents those, like, heart stopping moments where
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely not.
Speaker 1:Feature accidentally Yes. Causes, like, a domino effect.
Speaker 2:Right. It minimizes risk
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And allows for much faster recovery if something does go wrong.
Speaker 1:Yeah. You could just isolate the problem.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Fix it. Yeah. Redeploy that module Mhmm. Without having to roll back the whole system.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Okay. So decoupling clearly provides
Speaker 2:A ton
Speaker 1:of things. Yes. In terms of speed, flexibility, risk management. Mhmm. But what about the flip side?
Speaker 1:Are there any potential downsides?
Speaker 2:That's a great question.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's important to remember that decoupling isn't a magic bullet.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Right? It's a powerful tool. But like any tool, it needs to be used thoughtfully and strategically.
Speaker 1:So it's not just about blindly separating everything.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:It's about understanding the system. Yes. Identifying the right points of separation.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Making sure that those modules can still communicate and work together effectively.
Speaker 2:It's about finding that sweet spot where you have enough independence to allow for flexibility and innovation Right. But also enough integration to ensure that the system functions.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's a cohesive whole.
Speaker 2:As a whole. Exactly.
Speaker 1:And this is where I think having that clear conceptual model
Speaker 2:It's crucial.
Speaker 1:Becomes so important.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Without a deep understanding of how the system works
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:And how all the pieces fit together
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You could end up with a bunch of disconnected modules that don't actually achieve the desired results.
Speaker 1:Yeah. You need a blueprint.
Speaker 2:You need a road map
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Vision for how the decoupled system should operate.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And that requires
Speaker 2:Careful planning Right. Thoughtful design
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And a deep understanding of those underlying principles.
Speaker 1:And Grady emphasizes this point throughout the article
Speaker 2:He does.
Speaker 1:That building that clear conceptual model
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Is really the foundation It is. For everything else.
Speaker 2:It's like creating a road map before embarking on a long journey.
Speaker 1:Right. And the beauty of a well designed model Yeah. Is that it can guide you through these complex decisions
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Help you anticipate potential challenges Mhmm. And ensure that your system remains adaptable and resilient as it evolves.
Speaker 2:It's almost like having a crystal ball
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That allows you to see into the future of your system Right. And make informed choices that will set you up for success.
Speaker 1:I love that analogy.
Speaker 2:Me too.
Speaker 1:So we've covered the build process, the benefits of decoupling Mhmm. The importance of a clear conceptual model.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:What I'm really curious about now Okay. Is how all of this translates into Right. Tangible business value.
Speaker 2:Yeah. That's the ultimate test. Yeah. Right? It's one thing to talk about these concepts in theory
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But it's another to see how they actually impact the bottom line.
Speaker 1:Right. And luckily, Grady doesn't disappoint.
Speaker 2:He doesn't.
Speaker 1:He shares some pretty incredible results Yeah. That Empower achieved
Speaker 2:He does.
Speaker 1:By implementing this decoupled model.
Speaker 2:So tell me, what were those results?
Speaker 1:Well, hold on tight.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Because this is the part where things get really exciting. Welcome back to the Deep Dive.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We've been on this journey with Paul Grady
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Exploring his approach to streamlining software delivery and empower finance. Mhmm. And we've talked about building that robust build process Right. Understanding the power of decoupling
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And the importance of having that clear conceptual model.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And now for the grand finale.
Speaker 2:The results. The results. They're excited.
Speaker 1:Grady reveals that by implementing this model
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Empower was able to achieve something pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:They reduced their software delivery time from hours Wow. To minutes. Minutes.
Speaker 2:Minutes. That's incredible.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's like going from
Speaker 2:It's a game changer.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's like sending a letter by carrier pigeon
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Versus sending an instant message.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Amazing.
Speaker 1:But I think what's even more exciting than that Yeah. Is how this translates into tangible business value.
Speaker 2:Right. Because, ultimately, that's what matters.
Speaker 1:Totally. So what were some of the key benefits
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:That Empower saw from this?
Speaker 2:Well, 1st and foremost
Speaker 1:Got it.
Speaker 2:It allowed them to respond to market changes Mhmm. And customer needs much faster.
Speaker 1:Right. Because in today's world Yeah. That agility is
Speaker 2:Essential. Crucial. Absolutely. You gotta be able to move quickly.
Speaker 1:It's like having a race car versus a horse drawn carriage.
Speaker 2:I love that analogy.
Speaker 1:Yeah. You can react to obstacles. Yeah. Seize opportunities
Speaker 2:Much faster.
Speaker 1:So much faster. Yeah. And it also freed up their development teams Right. To focus on innovation. Yes.
Speaker 2:Instead of being bogged down by all those tedious manual processes.
Speaker 1:Alright. Those bottlenecks.
Speaker 2:Exactly. When you streamline the flow Yeah. It unlocks so much creative energy.
Speaker 1:So faster delivery, greater agility Mhmm. More innovation.
Speaker 2:It's a winning combination.
Speaker 1:It really is. Yeah. But here's the question that's been swirling in my mind this whole time.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:If everyone is a modeler Right. As Grady suggests Yeah. How can we apply these principles to our own work, our own projects?
Speaker 2:That's the $1,000,000 question. Yeah. And it's where things get really interesting because as we've been saying
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:These principles aren't limited to software development.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:These are universal principles Yeah. That can be applied to any complex system or process.
Speaker 1:So what's a good starting point?
Speaker 2:Well, I think the key is to start by identifying those areas in your work or life
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Where things feel clunky and efficient.
Speaker 1:Okay. K.
Speaker 2:Frustrating.
Speaker 1:Alright. So, like, my morning routine Perfect example. It's always a chaotic scramble.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:I never feel like I have enough time.
Speaker 2:So let's apply Grady's approach.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:1st, you wanna create a clear conceptual model
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Of your current morning routine. What are all the steps involved?
Speaker 1:Okay. So waking up, showering, getting dressed Yeah. Making breakfast, packing my bag Okay. Checking emails.
Speaker 2:All those things.
Speaker 1:All those things.
Speaker 2:Now look for opportunities to decouple certain steps.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Maybe you can prepare your breakfast the night before Right. Or lay out your clothes to save time in the morning Uh-huh. Or maybe you designate a specific time slot for checking emails
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Instead of letting them interrupt your flow throughout the morning.
Speaker 1:It's like creating a mini deployment pipeline
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:For my morning routine. Yeah. Each step has its designated time and place, and I can move through them.
Speaker 2:More efficiently.
Speaker 1:More efficiently. Yeah. This is eye opening. Right. I'm already starting to see how this could apply to other areas of my life Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Like managing projects at work Yeah. Planning a family vacation.
Speaker 2:It's all about systems and processes.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And it's empowering to know that we're not stuck with the way things are.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:We can be architect
Speaker 2:We can be designers.
Speaker 1:Of our own systems, our own processes
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And ultimately create more efficient, more effective
Speaker 2:Uh-huh.
Speaker 1:And even more enjoyable experiences.
Speaker 2:And remember, even small changes can have a ripple effect. Right. So start with one process you wanna improve, apply those principles, and see what happens.
Speaker 1:That's a fantastic challenge.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:And for anyone looking for more inspiration Yeah. We highly recommend checking out
Speaker 2:Paul Grady's work.
Speaker 1:Paul Grady's work. He's a master at explaining these complex concepts
Speaker 2:He is.
Speaker 1:In a clear and engaging way.
Speaker 2:And be sure to tune in next time when we'll dive into another fascinating topic
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And uncover more hidden gems of knowledge.
Speaker 1:Until then, keep modeling, keep decoupling
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And keep diving deep.