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Here's the distilled essence of configuration management wisdom, forged from years of YAML battles and late-night `kubectl debug` sessions:
unspoken_laws_of_configuration_systems.md
### **The Unspoken Laws of Configuration Systems**
1. **The 90/10 Rule of Templates**
- 90% of your configs will fit clean patterns
- 10% will require `# TODO: FIX THIS UGLY HACK` comments
- The art is keeping the 10% from infecting the 90%
2. **The Hierarchy of Configuration Needs**
```text
[ It Works ]
/ \
[Auditable] [Maintainable]
\ /
[Documented]
|
[Pretty Output]
```
*(Most teams get stuck between "It Works" and "Auditable")*
3. **The Three Stages of Config Enlightenment**
- **Stage 1**: "I'll just hardcode this one value..."
- **Stage 2**: "We need a full templating system!"
- **Stage 3**: `sed -i 's/{{.*}}//g'` + prayer
4. **The Configuration Complexity Curve**
```mermaid
graph LR
A[Flat Files] --> B[Variables]
B --> C[Conditionals]
C --> D[Generators]
D --> E[Custom DSL]
E --> F[Back to Flat Files]
```
5. **The Maintenance Paradox**
- The more reusable your config system becomes,
- The more specialized knowledge it requires to modify,
- Until only your original architect understands it
- *(Who left last year for a blockchain startup)*
6. **The Two Types of Config Changes**
- **Type 1**: "This needs to be parameterized immediately!"
- **Type 2**: "This should never be changed ever again"
- *(All production emergencies involve confusing Type 1 for Type 2)*
7. **The Ultimate Test**
When a new engineer asks:
- "Where do I change the timeout setting?"
If the answer requires:
- More than 3 steps → Your system has failed
- Opening more than 2 files → Your system has failed
- Knowing which Git commit introduced the setting → You're now a historian
### **Practical Survival Tips**
- **Versioning**: Your `v1/` directory will outlive your company
- **Documentation**: Write it as if you'll be hit by a bus tomorrow
*(Because you might quit when you see the next requirements)*
- **Templating**: Every `{% if %}` statement reduces your will to live by 5%
- **Validation**: The only error message that matters is "This broke production"
### **The Zen Conclusion**
The perfect configuration system:
1. Doesn't exist
2. Would be obsolete by the time you built it
3. Will be replaced by someone who thinks YAML is "too complex"
Now go forth and `apply` (but keep `--dry-run` handy).