DevOps Paradox DOP 287: Automating Dependency Updates with Renovate
Oct 30, 2024
Rhys Arkins, the creator of Renovate, delves into the challenges of manual dependency updates and the necessity for automation in software development. He discusses how Renovate originated and its role in improving software efficiency and security. Rhys highlights the balance between full automation and manual reviews, exploring Renovate's advantages over competitors. The conversation also touches on community engagement and how word-of-mouth significantly contributes to the growth and adoption of innovative tools like Renovate.
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Automate Consistent Approvals
- Be realistic about your update review process.
- If you consistently auto-approve certain updates, configure Renovate to auto-merge them.
Merge Confidence
- Many developers blindly auto-merge dependency updates without review.
- Renovate's merge confidence feature uses crowdsourced data to assess update risk, providing more informed automation.
Renovate Origin Story
- Rhys Arkins' team faced a week-long production issue due to a faulty Firebase SDK update.
- This incident highlighted the need for automated dependency updates, leading to Renovate's creation.