Large scale reuse of microservices using DevOps and InnerSource practices -- A longitudinal case study

TL;DR

This longitudinal case study explores how Ericsson leverages DevOps and InnerSource practices for large-scale microservice reuse, highlighting costs, benefits, challenges, and improvements over time.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into the long-term effects and practical challenges of implementing InnerSource and DevOps for microservice reuse in a large organization.

Findings

Reusable assets require upfront effort and compliance efforts.

Long-term benefits include improved quality and productivity.

Scaling InnerSource increases contributions and reuse.

Abstract

Contemporary practices such as InnerSource and DevOps promote software reuse. This study investigates the implications of using contemporary practices on software reuse. In particular, we investigate the costs, benefits, challenges, and potential improvements in contemporary reuse at Ericsson. We performed the study in two phases: a) the initial data collection based on a combination of data collection methods (e.g., interviews, discussions, company portals), and b) a follow-up group discussion after a year to understand the status of the challenges and improvements identified in the first phase. Our results indicate that developing reusable assets resulted in upfront costs, such as additional effort in ensuring compliance. Furthermore, development with reuse also resulted in additional effort, for example, in integrating and understanding reusable assets. Ericsson perceived the additional effort as an investment resulting in long-term benefits such as improved quality, productivity, customer experience, and way of working. Ericsson's main challenge was increased pressure on the producers of reusable assets, which was mitigated by scaling the InnerSource adoption. InnerSource success is evident from the increase in the contributions to reusable assets. In addition, Ericsson implemented measures such as automating the compliance check, which enhanced the maturity of reusable assets and resulted in increased reuse.