DORA metrics are a set of key indicators crafted by the amazingly talented DevOps Research and Assessment team at Google. These metrics empower engineering teams to make data-driven decisions that foster continuous improvement in pursuit of the highest DevOps ideals — speed and stability. So what are the four core indicators that make up DORA metrics? Keep reading to find out.
Change Lead Time measures the time from the initiation of a change request to its deployment in production. Efficient development processes result in shorter lead times, while prolonged lead times may highlight bottlenecks in the pipeline.
Deployment Frequency gauges how frequently a team pushes changes to production. High-performing teams usually make smaller and more frequent deployments, enhancing speed and reducing the risk associated with larger commits.
Change Failure Rate evaluates the rate at which production changes result in incidents, rollbacks, or failures. A lower change failure rate signifies better code quality, and teams strive to decrease this rate over time through improved skills and processes.
Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) measures the time it takes to resolve incidents and failures in production. The goal here is to minimize downtime and build systems that swiftly detect, diagnose, and correct issues.
The DevOps Research and Assessment team, which was acquired by Google in 2018, sought to understand practices fostering high performance in software development and value delivery. Their 2016 “State of DevOps Report" introduced the four DORA metrics as crucial indicators of software teams' performance in development and delivery.
For engineering leaders, utilizing DORA metrics provides a roadmap to success. By measuring and tracking these metrics over time, teams often gain the insights they need to inform decisions and drive improvements throughout the development process. Improved DORA metrics also signal effective decision-making and increased value delivered to customers.
Tools like DevInsight provide valuable assistance by enabling teams to accurately track and analyze DORA metrics and facilitate a data-driven approach to continuous improvement. Whether assessing change lead time, deployment frequency, change failure rate, or mean time to recovery, DevInsight empowers teams to make informed decisions and enhance their overall DevOps performance.
DORA metrics serve as a north star for engineering teams, helping them navigate the complexities of software development. As teams measure and improve these metrics over time, they’ll not only elevate their DevOps practices but also deliver more value to their customers.
For a better understanding of how DevInsight supports teams in measuring DORA metrics, check out devinsight.ai or book a demo today.
