Understanding and Balancing the Cognitive Loads of Developers

The DevOps workforce is experiencing high levels of stress, burnout, and cognitive load due to additional roles and responsibilities. A paper published in IT Revolution's DevOps Enterprise Fall 2022 Journal discusses the adoption of a standardized platform to support a "You Build It, You Operate It" (YBYO) model and its impact on developers' cognitive load. LaunchDarkly, a company founded by two developers focused on making developers' lives easier, has implemented changes in their on-call coverage process to reduce burnout. The paper also highlights the importance of psychological safety and experimentation for increased innovation. Monitoring developers' happiness and job satisfaction can help ease the burden of the YBYO model and improve overall performance. Both publications provide valuable insights and tips for DevOps professionals dealing with cognitive load and job satisfaction issues.