Why software builds must be treated as observable processes, not binary actions
By
David Wang
Summary
This article argues that software builds are commonly treated as a single binary action (success/failure) in CI/CD pipelines, but this abstraction obscures the complex underlying process. Drawing on Deming's principles, the author contends that builds should be understood as structured processes requiring observability to diagnose failures and improve efficiency. The piece critiques how CI automation hides the internal steps, dependencies, and failure modes of builds, and calls for treating the build as a process that must be instrumented and understood—especially as AI agents become more involved in software delivery.
Source
bskyWhy software builds must be treated as observable processes, not binary actionsgradle.comKey quotes
· 5 pulledDeming's principles transformed modern engineering and operations, by making the simple but profound observation above.
Despite being one of the most resource-intensive and business-critical parts of the delivery pipeline, the build is still commonly treated as a single action, a step that runs and produces a result.
This binary abstraction simplifies automation but obscures the underlying reality, creating a critical observability gap.
If we cannot describe the specific 'why' behind a build failure as a structured process, we (and our AI agents) are performing work we don't truly understand.
The build is no longer just something that runs—it is a process that must be understood through observability.
You might also wanna read
Critical Analysis: GitHub Actions vs. Buildkite for CI/CD Developer Experience
A former CircleCI employee with extensive experience across multiple CI/CD systems argues that GitHub Actions is fundamentally flawed and de
iankduncan.com·4mo agoCritique of Modern CI Platforms: Complexity vs. Practical Benefits
Gregory Szorc critiques modern CI (Continuous Integration) platforms, arguing they have become overly complex and misdirected despite their
The Case for LEGO-Like Software Building Blocks Over Advanced Type Systems
The article argues that the software development community is overly focused on advancing type systems (like dependent types and effect syst
programmingsimplicity.substack.com·5mo ago
Understanding Build Systems: A Comprehensive Guide to Software Development Tools
This article provides a comprehensive overview of build systems, explaining them as tools that define and execute transformations from input
jyn.dev·6mo ago
A Tool to Visualize and Optimize Software Build Processes
The article discusses the challenges of slow compilation times in software projects, often due to inefficiencies rather than sheer code volu
danielchasehooper.com·10mo ago
The Fundamental Flaws in Traditional Logging and the Case for Wide Events in Observability
The article critiques traditional logging practices in software development, arguing that conventional logs are fundamentally flawed and ins
loggingsucks.com·6mo ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.