Saturday, March 30, 2024

12 Factor App

 The "12 Factor App" offers a set of best practices for building modern software applications. Following these 12 principles can help developers and teams in building reliable, scalable, and manageable applications.

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Here's a brief overview of each principle:

  1. Codebase:
    Have one place to keep all your code, and manage it using version control like Git.

  2. Dependencies:
    List all the things your app needs to work properly, and make sure they're easy to install.

  3. Config:
    Keep important settings like database credentials separate from your code, so you can change them without rewriting code.

  4. Backing Services:
    Use other services (like databases or payment processors) as separate components that your app connects to.

  5. Build, Release, Run:
    Make a clear distinction between preparing your app, releasing it, and running it in production.

  6. Processes:
    Design your app so that each part doesn't rely on a specific computer or memory. It's like making LEGO blocks that fit together.

  7. Port Binding:
    Let your app be accessible through a network port, and make sure it doesn't store critical information on a single computer.

  8. Concurrency:
    Make your app able to handle more work by adding more copies of the same thing, like hiring more workers for a busy restaurant.

  9. Disposability:
    Your app should start quickly and shut down gracefully, like turning off a light switch instead of yanking out the power cord.

  10. Dev/Prod Parity:
    Ensure that what you use for developing your app is very similar to what you use in production, to avoid surprises.

  11. Logs:
    Keep a record of what happens in your app so you can understand and fix issues, like a diary for your software.

  12. Admin Processes:
    Run special tasks separately from your app, like doing maintenance work in a workshop instead of on the factory floor.