Changelog Master Feed Inside Oxide (Changelog & Friends #110)
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Sep 26, 2025 
Cliff Biffle, a firmware engineer at Oxide, discusses the creation of Hubris, a lightweight OS designed for service processors, emphasizing Rust's advantages in firmware. Dave Pacheco, Oxide's engineering lead, reveals the challenges of orchestrating software updates, including self-service options that minimize downtime. Ben Leonard, the design lead, shares insights on Oxide's unique design language, blending nostalgic aesthetics with modern functionality, while maintaining brand consistency across products. Together, they showcase Oxide's innovative culture and engineering prowess.
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MUPP: Update's Minimal First Step
- Dave Pacheco built Oxide's initial 'minimum upgradable product' to allow factory-delivered systems to be recoverable and updatable at customer sites.
- That early focus enabled robust recovery procedures and became the basis for their longer Update project.
Updates Replace Hundreds Of Components
- An Oxide software update replaces hundreds of components across sleds, switches, service processors, bootloaders, and storage.
- The control plane hides this complexity by bundling releases into a single artifact and orchestrating the process for operators.
Design Updates For Air-Gapped Operators
- Support air-gapped customers by designing updates that the operator downloads and uploads locally without rack internet access.
- Prioritize autonomous operation so racks can be updated without requiring outbound connectivity or cloud interaction.