“Design for easy repairability, especially in complex systems that must evolve over time.” - Ali Hajou

In this episode, the SPCs Unleashed team tackles the complex dimension of continually evolving live systems, with a particular focus on large, cyber-physical systems. Mark Richards, Ali Hajou, Stephan Neck, and Nikolaos Kaintantzis delve into the intricacies of designing and maintaining systems where hardware and software must seamlessly integrate over extended periods.

Ali opens the discussion with a story about a client who successfully implemented modular retrofitting to keep large machines up-to-date and operational even when certain parts were not yet available. Stephan and Niko share their experiences, highlighting the importance of a continuous delivery pipeline (CDP) that can accommodate the unique demands of cyber-physical systems, such as firmware updates and complex deployments.

The conversation shifts to the critical role of modular design and interface management in enabling continuous evolution without compromising system stability. The team underscores the need for stable, product-focused teams to manage both legacy systems and new innovations effectively.

As always, the episode concludes with a spirited debate on the most relevant Measure and Grow metric. While opinions differ, the consensus emphasizes the importance of modularity and the ability to deploy updates independently to ensure systems can evolve with minimal disruption.

Cast:

Mark Richards (Moderator)

Ali Hajou

Stephan Neck

Niko Kaintantzis