Pitch Document for Enhanced Runbook Feature in Octopus Deploy 🚀

A structured approach to enhancing Runbooks by integrating version control and simplifying user experience.

1. Understanding the Problem Space 🔍

Effective management of configurations is critical for teams operating within a Fast-Moving Development Environment. Recent engagement metrics have shown a marked increase in interest towards version-controlling both Runbooks and Variables among users, highlighting the necessity for further development in this sector. This push towards Config as Code will not only augment functionality but also align operational scripts alongside application code, offering cohesive structure and version management.

Key challenges have surfaced, including:

• Version Control: Users are keen to ensure their configurations are encoded to leverage version control features.
• Branching: There is a demand for mechanisms allowing users to branch their Runbooks, facilitating seamless alignment with application changes.
• User-Friendly Management: A simplified interaction model is required for managing Runbook changes, making the user experience more intuitive and efficient.

This pitch aims to tackle the outlined challenges, enhancing the Runbook management process while simultaneously enriching user satisfaction.

2. Solution Framework Overview 🛠️

The approach to version-controlling Runbooks hinges upon three core user scenarios that encapsulate the desired functionalities while ensuring that teams remain agile. Each scenario addresses specific user needs, fostering a natural workflow analogous to traditional version-control processes in application development.

2.1 Scenario 1: Synchronizing Changes

When teams introduce features that necessitate infrastructural adjustments, they face the challenge of cohesively pushing Runbook changes alongside their application code updates. A proposed solution involves:

1. Initiating a new project with configuration control activated.
2. Creating a designated feature branch.
3. Developing a new Runbook which is stored within the .octopus directory of the git repository associated with that branch.
4. Executing the Runbook directly from the branch for validation.

This scenario promotes an integrated deployment process by enforcing synchronization between application and operational adjustments.

2.2 Scenario 2: Iterative Testing

For teams tasked with modifying Runbooks, testing and validation are signature phases where prolonged iterations are often necessary. In such cases:

1. Existing Runbooks are enhanced within a feature branch.
2. Modifications are applied directly through the user interface, allowing for flexible changes.
3. The developed features undergo rigorous testing and refinements through persistent cycles until the Runbook is ready for deployment.

This iterative practice minimizes risks by ensuring only thoroughly vetted changes are integrated into the main codebase.

2.3 Scenario 3: Publishing Streamlined Processes

Once the adjustments to a Runbook are complete, the next stage focuses on publishing the changes for collective access. The critical steps are:

1. Merging finalized changes into the default branch, ensuring they are afforded visibility across user groups.
2. Allowing consumers to access the latest validated runbooks without complicating the awareness of branching structures.

This environment not only simplifies consumption for users but also instills confidence that they are operating with current, tested scripts.

3. Expected Outcomes and Metrics 📈

To gauge the success of this initiative, specific metrics will be monitored, with anticipated improvements including:

• An increase in the adoption of Config as Code strategies by 50%, expanding from 10% to 15%.
• Doubling the percentage of active projects utilizing version control, ascending from 5% to 7.5%.

Performance measures will be revisited promptly before the end of Q2, 2023, freezing metrics as part of the readiness checklist pre-launch.

Conclusion

The proposed enhancements to Runbook functionalities are set to revolutionize the way users engage with their operational scripts within Octopus Deploy. By emphasizing collaboration, simplicity, and efficiency, we aspire to not only meet users' immediate needs but also future-proof our offerings in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The focus on solidifying a robust framework for Config as Code capabilities warrants excitement as we embark on this journey towards operational excellence in configuration management.