Maintaining an application in production is a significant challenge in software development. Developers tasked with maintenance address bugs and handle production outages to ensure smooth application operation.

This article presents recommendations to minimize production bugs and expedite issue resolution. Managing production applications is complex, often lacking documentation, using outdated technology, and involving minimal training, making support for unfamiliar applications a common scenario.

Many developers lack experience in handling production applications, leading to bugs and outages that can cost companies substantial financial losses. This lack of experience often results in recurring mistakes. These tips aim to alleviate these challenges by sharing practical production insights.

Tip #1: Minimize or automate application configuration.

Setting up software on a new server can be time-consuming, sometimes taking days, especially for new developers. Manual installation processes can become outdated as software evolves, leading to further delays.

Containerization, particularly through Docker, simplifies this process, enabling quick and configuration-free application setup. Docker images, being self-contained, minimize compatibility issues across different operating systems, languages, and frameworks.

Similarly, streamline developer setup, including IDE configuration, to ensure a quick and efficient start, ideally within 30 minutes.

When production issues arise, having a streamlined setup allows even less experienced developers to address problems effectively, especially when key experts may be unavailable.

Tip #2: Avoid excessive technology stacks.

While using the “right tool for the job” is crucial, avoid an unnecessarily diverse technology stack. Each language or framework added introduces complexity and potential compatibility issues.

• Avoid adding a new framework just for a utility class like StringUtils.
• Don’t introduce a new language just for a simple file-moving script.

A bloated technology stack can become a burden when libraries clash or security vulnerabilities emerge, either within the frameworks or their dependencies.

Furthermore, a complex stack makes finding and training new developers harder. High turnover in engineering teams necessitates finding replacements quickly. Each additional technology increases the time and cost of recruiting new team members.

Tip #3: Implement effective logging practices.

Logging, much like code comments, is essential for documenting critical decisions and providing debugging information. Anticipate potential production outages and implement logging that aids in their resolution. Logging should evolve with the codebase, focusing on the most frequently used and critical sections.

Prioritize logging important information, such as method argument values, runtime types, and significant software decisions, particularly when choosing between different execution paths.

Tip #4: Gracefully handle unexpected situations.

Clearly document code assumptions. Enforce data types that reflect expected values (e.g., enums instead of ints). Production outages often stem from violated assumptions, leading to misdirected troubleshooting efforts.

Explicitly document assumptions and implement alerts for assumption failures, enabling the production support team to take swift action. Implement code to prevent invalid data states or, at the very least, generate alerts when they occur. For instance, if data should be stored in a single record, trigger a warning if multiple records are detected.

Tip #5: Enable easy replication of customer issues.

Replicating customer-reported issues is often the most time-consuming aspect of troubleshooting. Simplify this process by enabling developers to recreate customer environments quickly.

Complex application configurations and the need to deduce customer actions can make issue replication difficult. Provide a mechanism to import specific data subsets from the production database, enabling developers to recreate customer-specific scenarios within isolated Docker instances.

For example, if a customer experiences issues with the Orders screen, import relevant orders, customer data, and related records. This approach allows developers to see what the customer sees, expediting issue resolution. Ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect sensitive data during this process.

Tip #6: Design code for easy debugging.

Structure code to make breakpoint placement obvious. For instance, a Customer screen should have a corresponding Customer object with methods where breakpoints can be easily set. Avoid overly complex abstractions and prioritize clear, easily understandable code.

The same principle applies to batch processing jobs and scheduled tasks—ensure clear entry points for debugging.

Tip #7: Maintain up-to-date documentation of external dependencies.

Document all external systems, databases, and resources crucial for the application’s operation in an easily accessible location, ideally within the source control system’s README file. Specify optional dependencies and provide instructions for handling their absence.

Beyond Debugging Techniques

By implementing these recommendations during development and maintenance, production support becomes less burdensome, saving time and money. Swift resolution of production bugs and crashes is crucial, and every minute saved translates into significant cost savings. Happy coding!