With the core goal to build a free, editable map of the world, OpenStreetMap's website repo is where all the magic happens.
This open-source project, powered by Ruby, runs on a great community of developers and cartographers across the planet.
We've been looking at some interesting repositories in our 100 days of Dora case studies series and have uncovered some interesting stuff already.
In this case study, we break down OpenStreetMap's DevOps game using DORA metrics, diving into real-world data to uncover how often code ships, how fast changes go live, and what's driving those numbers.
Understanding DORA Metrics
DORA metrics are the go-to for measuring how well software delivery and operations are performing within DevOps teams.
The four key DORA metrics are:
- Deployment Frequency: How often code makes it to production.
- Lead Time for Changes: How long it takes for a commit to land in production.
- Change Failure Rate: The percentage of deployments that break something and need an immediate fix.
- Mean Time to Restore (MTTR): How fast the team recovers from a production failure.
In this case study, we're zeroing in on Deployment Frequency and Lead Time for Changes---two metrics that directly reflect how fast and efficiently an organization delivers.
These numbers give a clear view of engineering speed and process slowdowns, which are crucial to keep improving in today's fast-paced development world.
If you want to dive a bit deeper into what Dora Metrics are and how you can leverage them for your team, you can check out one of our articles.
Key Findings
1. Deployment Frequency
The OpenStreetMap website repository pushed an average of 58 deployments per month over the last three months, signaling a robust culture of continuous delivery and rapid iteration.
Albeit these DF numbers aren't the best, especially considering the other God level repos that we saw, almost 60 average DFs are nothing to be shy about either.
Key Drivers of Deployment Frequency
Robust Automation Pipelines: The repo leans heavily on automation tools like docker.yml, lint.yml, and tests.yml to keep the build, test, and deployment processes running smoothly. With less manual effort and fewer human errors, they've cut down release times significantly.
Efficient Pull Request Handling: June 2024 saw an almost-instantaneous average merge time of just 10.08 seconds! Even with a slight increase in the following months, merge times remained under 6 hours---proof of an agile review process that keeps things moving fast.
Engaged Reviewer Community: Contributors like gravitystorm and kcne are on the ball when it comes to code reviews, keeping the process fast and thorough. Prompt code reviews facilitate quick integration of changes, maintain code quality, and maintain a collaborative development environment.
Pull requests such as #5056 and #5053 are great examples of this active engagement.
2. Lead Time for Changes
While the repository excels in deployment frequency, the Lead Time for Changes---averaging around 13.26 hours over the past three months---shows room for improvement. The first response time is really good as well compared to the averages.
Although a half-day lead time is impressive, especially for an open-source project with global contributors, shortening this could further boost development speed and efficiency.
Key Influencing Factors
First Response Time Variability: The time between a pull request's submission and the first reviewer's response fluctuated significantly.
July saw an average response time of 6.77 hours, compared to just 1.47 hours in June. That's a 4.6x increase. This multiple looks great on an investment portfolio but not much when it comes to the lead time of a repo ;)
These delays in initial feedback can slow down progress and it does compound, adding unnecessary time to the overall process.
Rework Time Fluctuations: Rework time---the period spent revising code after the initial review---dropped from 11.28 hours in June to 2.94 hours in August. It's bittersweet
While the improved rework time shows an improvement in code quality or review efficiency, rework still adds to the overall lead time and offers an opportunity for further optimization.
For example, PR #5016 ("Allow to edit revoked blocks") required significant rework due to its complexity, in turn extending its lead time.
While the repository maintains great lead times, placing more focus on reducing first response times and streamlining the rework process could drive even faster delivery cycles, enhancing both efficiency and development speed.
Diverse Contributions Pushing Growth
The OpenStreetMap website repository thrives on a diverse range of contributions, showcasing a vibrant and healthy open-source ecosystem.
Feature Development (50%): Innovation is at the forefront, with new features driving user engagement and functionality. For instance, PR #5056 added an "og:description" meta tag to diary entries, improving social media sharing and enhancing the user experience.
Bug Fixes (30%): Stability is key, with bug fixes ensuring the platform remains reliable. Notably, PR #5016 resolved a critical issue with user permissions by enabling editing of revoked blocks, improving system integrity.
Documentation (10%): Clear and accessible documentation is vital for the community. PR #5031 updated the "GPX Import email in text format," making it easier for new contributors to onboard and stay informed.
Testing and Quality Assurance (10%): Testing contributions are crucial for maintaining code quality. By focusing on tests, the project ensures that new changes don't introduce regressions, keeping the codebase robust and dependable
Positive Impact on the Project
The deployment frequency and streamlined workflows in the OpenStreetMap repository deliver substantial benefits to both the project and its community of contributors and users.
Accelerated Innovation: With rapid deployment cycles, new features and improvements are rolled out quickly, enhancing platform functionality and user satisfaction. This speed allows the project to stay responsive to evolving user needs and technological shifts.
Enhanced Contributor Experience: Swift integration of contributions motivates open-source developers by validating their work. The efficient review and merge processes foster a positive, collaborative environment that encourages ongoing participation from both new and experienced contributors.
Quality Assurance: Automated testing and continuous integration maintain stability, ensuring that the fast deployment pace doesn't compromise the platform's reliability. Issues are caught early in the process, reinforcing high-quality standards across releases.
Community Trust and Engagement: Regular updates build trust among users, reassuring them of the project's commitment to reliability and progress. This trust strengthens both the user base and contributor engagement, helping the project flourish.
These practices demonstrate how strong DevOps strategies can fuel innovation, improve community involvement, and elevate the overall success of an open-source project.
Strategic Recommendations for Enhanced Performance
To elevate the OpenStreetMap repository's DevOps practices from great to exceptional, here are some targeted actions:
Standardize and Expedite First Response Times
Implement SLA Policies: Set service level agreements (SLAs) for code reviews, such as committing to an initial response within 4 hours.
Automated Alert Systems: Leverage automation to notify reviewers when new pull requests (PRs) are submitted or pending beyond a certain period
Expand Reviewer Pool: Encourage more contributors to join code reviews by offering clear guidelines and training to reduce pressure on a small group.
Reduce Rework Through Enhanced Code Quality
Adopt Pre-Commit Hooks and Checks: Enforce coding standards with tools like linters or static code analyzers before PRs are submitted.
Code Review Guidelines: Create robust guidelines to set clear expectations for contributors, minimizing the need for back-and-forth revisions.
Peer Programming and Mentorship: Promote collaborative development by pairing experienced developers with newcomers, ensuring better initial code submissions.
Foster and Sustain Active Code Review Culture
Recognition Programs: Acknowledge top reviewers with leaderboards, badges, or shout-outs during community meetings to incentivize participation.
Contributor Onboarding: Streamline the process for new contributors to become reviewers, providing resources and tools to ease their transition.
Feedback Loops: Enable contributors to provide feedback on the review process, creating a culture of continuous improvement.
Leverage Analytics for Continuous Improvement
Monitor DORA Metrics Regularly: Track key metrics continuously to detect trends and pinpoint areas needing optimization.
Set Performance Targets: Establish clear goals for deployment frequency, lead time, and other metrics to align the team toward common objectives.
Share Insights with the Community: Promote transparency by sharing performance data and achievements, fostering collective ownership of the project.
By adopting these strategies, OpenStreetMap can fine-tune its DevOps performance, further reduce lead times, and streamline workflows, strengthening its status as a leading open-source initiative.
Let's Wrap This Up
The OpenStreetMap website repository is a shining example of how effective DevOps practices can drive success in an open-source environment. With its impressive deployment frequency and smooth workflows, the project consistently delivers value to a global user base while maintaining high standards of reliability.
The strong engagement from contributors and maintainers creates a thriving community that continuously pushes innovation forward.
That said, there's always room to optimize. Focusing on cutting down lead times by implementing standardized response procedures and improving code quality could make the repository's delivery pipeline even faster. By incorporating these strategies, the project can enhance performance, boost contributor satisfaction, and ensure long-term sustainability.
Further Reading and Resources
Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps
An in-depth exploration of DORA metrics and their impact on software delivery performance.
Annual research insights into DevOps trends, metrics, and best practices.
OpenStreetMap Contributor Guidelines
Official guidelines for contributing to the OpenStreetMap project.
Top comments (1)
Amazing!