Austin Story: Making Software Easier to Change, Remove, and Evolve

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Dec 10, 2024

Austin Story, Senior Engineering Director at Doximity, dives into the art of creating maintainable software. He discusses critical traits like testability and simplicity, along with the principle of YAGNI that ensures only necessary features are built. Austin shares insights on migrating to a federated GraphQL architecture from a monolith, addressing both benefits and challenges. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between data and application teams, using tools like Kafka, to enhance workflow efficiency. Tune in for a masterclass on software evolution!

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ANECDOTE

SaaS Billing and Onboarding

Austin Story shared an anecdote about building a SaaS product for lawyers.
He learned that early clients often preferred personalized onboarding over self-service, emphasizing the importance of understanding client needs.

ADVICE

Billing Integration

Keep billing integration simple initially, avoid direct dependencies on payment processors, and use join tables for flexibility.
This allows for easier integration of multiple payment options later without significant refactoring.

ADVICE

Fostering Ownership

Foster ownership by leading through example and emphasizing results over individual tasks.
Focus on outcomes and the impact of work, not just completing assigned items.

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Austin Story, Senior Engineering Director at Doximity, joins Robby to explore the intricacies of building maintainable systems, fostering team accountability, and enabling faster iteration without sacrificing quality. Austin shares how his team approached migrating from a monolithic GraphQL architecture to a federated model, why simplicity matters for long-term success, and how guiding principles like YAGNI influence his decision-making.

Doximity is a leading digital platform for medical professionals, and their technology blog offers deep dives into the systems and tools that power their innovative solutions.

Key Topics Discussed

[00:00:41] What is maintainable software? Austin highlights key traits, including testability, simplicity, and ease of removal.
[00:02:09] Designing for removability: Why it's important and how it enables iterative progress.
[00:03:05] YAGNI (You Aren’t Gonna Need It): How this principle shapes Austin's approach to feature development.
[00:04:13] Migrating to GraphQL Federation: Benefits of breaking up a monolithic GraphQL server and the challenges faced during the transition.
[00:05:56] GraphQL vs. REST: How GraphQL aids developer productivity while maintaining backward compatibility.
[00:10:53] Collaboration between data and application teams: Using tools like Kafka to bridge gaps and improve workflow.
[00:17:00] Upgrading Ruby on Rails applications: Balancing autonomy with central guidance for seamless updates.
[00:27:55] Fostering ownership on teams: The cultural practices that empower engineers to take initiative and drive results.
[00:34:29] Prioritizing work effectively: How Austin's team uses quarterly planning and measurable "goalposts" to align efforts with impact.
[00:40:00] Avoiding bike-shedding: Keeping meetings and reviews focused on meaningful progress.

Key Takeaways

Simplicity Wins: Maintainable software is easier to adapt, remove, and iterate on when it's kept simple.
Iterate and Refine: Use principles like YAGNI to avoid over-engineering and ensure systems are built to evolve.
Collaboration Drives Success: Bridging communication between specialized teams can unlock untapped potential.
Focus on Outcomes: Define clear goals and track measurable results to ensure projects align with business needs.

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