In the world of software development, it’s easy to fall prey to the allure of grandiose promises and overly complex solutions. As a seasoned Dynamics 365 contractor who has worked with various Fortune 500 companies such as BNY Mellon, VISA, and Vale S.A., I’ve witnessed firsthand the pitfalls of overambitious CI/CD configurations.
One particularly striking example came from a project led by a “Gold” partner. In their setup, every system element, from form source XMLs to security roles, was saved as source code in the Azure DevOps repository. While this approach may seem thorough, it more often led to invisible discrepancies that would block the CI/CD pipeline, requiring extensive troubleshooting efforts.
The consequences of this setup were far-reaching. With 2 or 3-week sprints, the releases would consistently be delayed by weeks at a time. The team would find themselves dedicating more time to satisfying the demands of the CI/CD paradigm rather than focusing on delivering value to the client. Simple actions, such as two users re-saving a form might generate different GUIDs, causing mismatches in the repository and halting the CI/CD process.
It’s important to recognize that while CI/CD can be a valuable tool, it must be implemented in a lean and pragmatic manner. Attempting to cover every possible scenario and creating an all-encompassing solution often leads to more problems than it solves. A successful CI/CD pipeline should allow solutions to compile seamlessly in the repository and deploy to the target environment with the necessary approvals, nothing more and nothing less.
At Dynamics Wizards, we understand the importance of striking the right balance. Our team has extensive experience working with various CI/CD configurations, and we are committed to finding the approach that best aligns with your organization’s needs. By avoiding the pitfalls of overambitious implementations and focusing on delivering value, we can help you achieve your goals without the headaches and wasted resources.
If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, where your company has lost significant time and money due to vendors overengineering their solutions, it’s time to have a chat. Let us show you a better way forward, one that prioritizes your success above all else.
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