Challenge
A software company's product was made of several separate services. Setting it up on a new developer's computer took days and a colleague's help.
Each developer's set-up differed slightly, so problems appeared on one machine and not another.
Approach
We packaged the application so the whole of it starts the same way on any computer.
- Document what each service needs to run.
- Package the services in containers.
- Write a single script that fetches the code and starts everything.
- Mirror the test environment's settings so local results match.
- Write down the steps for a new starter.
Result
A new developer can run the full product on their first day.
- Environments that match from one machine to the next.
- Fewer problems that appear on only one computer.
- Set-up knowledge written down.
Our advice
If setting up a developer takes more than a morning, the set-up is costing you every time you hire. Automate it once.
Related service: Cloud computing.