Global Conventions

Coding conventions reduce ambiguity by establishing shared rules for naming, branching, commits, and code reviews. Codify these in documentation, apply them during code review, and use automated checks on environment-based configuration to ensure all developers follow the same practices.

Environment-based configuration keeps secrets out of version control. Store configuration values and secrets as environment variables, separate from source, and reference them in your application. This prevents accidental exposure and supports different configurations across development, staging, and production.

Infrastructure-as-code deployments via Ansible, paired with Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) and accurate READMEs, document your systems transparently. ADRs capture why decisions were made, while changelogs track changes, creating a single source of truth for your infrastructure and codebase.

Instrumenting code with metrics and logs enables visibility into system behavior during development and production. Observability practices catch issues early, support troubleshooting, and enforce transparency across your infrastructure and application stack.

Clean version control practices include clear branch naming conventions, focused commit messages, and transparent communication. Work on single features per branch, write descriptive commits, and use code reviews to enforce consistency and catch issues before merge.

Accurate specs in requirements.md and spec.md files define the truth for your project. Document dependencies, their purpose, and rationale; keep specs synchronized with implementation; and use transparent communication to flag changes early.