Developers Distracted by Firefighting, Full-Stack Observability Urged

Software developers are finding themselves increasingly bogged down in “war rooms” tackling application performance issues instead of innovating, according to a recent survey by Cisco. The study revealed that over 57% of developers spend their time troubleshooting, leaving little room for creating cutting-edge software.

The pressure on developers to accelerate release velocity and ensure seamless digital experiences is at an all-time high, with 85% reporting increased demands for speed and 77% facing pressure for flawless performance. However, developers are often diverted from innovation to assist Site Reliability Engineers and IT operations teams in managing application availability and performance.

The root of the problem lies in the lack of tools and visibility within organizations to understand application issues thoroughly. Developers worry that this shortfall could lead to increased downtime and disruptions in business-critical applications, with 75% expressing concerns.

The morale among developers is dwindling, with 82% feeling frustrated and 54% considering leaving their jobs. Organizations relying on developers for digital experiences must heed these warning signs, especially given the high demand for developer skills.

Shannon McFarland,

Vice President at Cisco DevNet,

emphasized the need for comprehensive solutions like full-stack observability. This approach provides unified visibility into applications and infrastructure, which could streamline issue identification and resolution, reducing the need for prolonged war room sessions.

Developers recognize the benefits of full-stack observability, with 91% feeling they should have a say in implementing such solutions. They believe it would alleviate their workload and enable them to focus on innovation rather than firefighting.

Moreover, developers see potential in AI to automate issue detection and resolution, freeing up resources and enabling real-time fixes. They advocate for greater collaboration between developers and IT teams, echoing the shift towards DevOps and DevSecOps methodologies.

In a landscape where developer talent is scarce, organizations must empower their teams with the necessary tools to meet consumer demands for digital experiences. Full-stack observability has become indispensable for delivering these experiences, highlighting its mission-critical role in modern IT operations.