Written by: Deric Ma – The Pro Forum Community of Practice
With the recent global IT outage, many are questioning why these updates were scheduled for a Friday, leading to disruptions over the following weekend and in some cases the following weeks. There’s a common saying among developers and IT professionals: “Never deploy on a Friday.” This rule of thumb is not just a whimsical guideline but a principle grounded in experience and practicality. Here’s why pushing updates and making things go live on a Friday is generally discouraged, and why adhering to this advice can save you from a myriad of potential issues.
Limited Support Availability
One of the most compelling reasons to avoid Friday deployments is the limited availability of support staff over the weekend. If an update causes problems, key team members who understand the system intricacies may be unavailable. This can lead to prolonged downtime or unresolved issues until the next working week, frustrating users and potentially impacting business operations.
Higher Risk of Errors
Deployments and updates are complex processes that often involve many steps and checks. Fatigue towards the end of the week can increase the likelihood of human error. By deploying earlier in the week, teams are generally more alert and can ensure a smoother process with fewer mistakes.
Insufficient Testing Time
If an update is pushed live on a Friday, there is limited time to monitor the system and catch any immediate issues before the weekend. This often results in insufficient testing and quick fixes rather than thorough solutions. Pushing updates earlier in the week allows for more comprehensive testing and the opportunity to address any problems promptly.
Potential for Weekend Disruptions
Deploying updates or going live on a Friday can lead to issues that disrupt weekend plans for both your team and your users. For the team, it might mean working over the weekend to fix problems. For users, it could mean encountering bugs or downtime during a time when they expect the service to be available.
Strained Team Morale
Emergency fixes and prolonged troubleshooting over the weekend can negatively impact team morale. Team members value their time off and constant interruptions can lead to burnout. By scheduling updates earlier in the week, you respect your team’s work-life balance and maintain higher morale.
Impact on User Experience
Users expect reliable service, especially over the weekend when they might rely on your product the most. A botched update can lead to a poor user experience, loss of trust, and potentially even a decline in user base. It’s crucial to ensure updates are thoroughly vetted and stable, something that is harder to guarantee with Friday deployments.
Avoiding Last-Minute Rush
Deploying on a Friday often comes with the pressure of wrapping things up quickly before the weekend starts. This rush can lead to skipped steps in the deployment process or insufficient checks, increasing the risk of errors. A more relaxed schedule earlier in the week allows for a more deliberate and careful deployment process.
In conclusion, while the temptation to push updates and make things go live on a Friday might be strong, especially if it’s the end of a sprint or project, it’s usually not worth the risk. The potential for limited support, increased errors, insufficient testing, weekend disruptions, strained team morale, poor user experience, and last-minute rushes all make it a less than ideal choice. By scheduling updates and deployments earlier in the week, you ensure a smoother, more controlled process that benefits both your team and your users. So, next time you’re planning a deployment, remember: it’s best to avoid Fridays.
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