During the development of our Serving Unit Testing (SUT) framework, we encountered a significant challenge related to tenant configuration. Initially, we aimed to provide flexibility by allowing each team (indexing and serving) to manage their own tenant configurations within the testing environment.
However, this approach quickly proved problematic. We received critical feedback from other teams, highlighting the potential for inconsistencies and increased complexity in maintaining multiple configurations. They expressed concerns about the potential for configuration drift and the difficulty of troubleshooting issues arising from conflicting configurations.
This feedback was initially challenging to accept, as we had invested significant effort in designing a flexible system. However, I recognized the validity of these concerns. We realized that allowing each team to manage their own configurations could lead to increased maintenance burden, potential for errors, and difficulties in troubleshooting.
To address these concerns, we shifted our approach. We collaborated closely with the Configuration team, exploring their ongoing efforts to develop Astro Views and Zone Director, a system for managing production configurations. We proposed a collaborative solution: leverage Astro Views and Zone Director as the source of truth for tenant configurations within the SUT framework.
This collaboration proved highly successful. By aligning with the Configuration team's efforts, we:
Reduced the complexity of tenant configuration management within SUT.
Improved the accuracy and consistency of test environments.
Enhanced the overall reliability and maintainability of the SUT framework.
Strengthened our relationship with the Configuration team, fostering a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership.
This experience reinforced the importance of:
Actively seeking and incorporating feedback: Even when initial plans seem sound, it's crucial to actively seek feedback from stakeholders and be open to adjusting course.
Collaboration and cross-team alignment: Working closely with other teams can lead to more robust and sustainable solutions.
Prioritizing long-term maintainability: Considering the long-term implications of design decisions is essential for building scalable and sustainable systems.
By embracing this critical feedback and adapting our approach, we were able to deliver a more robust and user-friendly SUT framework that has become a valuable asset for the entire organization.
