After some great conversations with folks around observability and Kloudfuse, one thing became clear—everyone’s using a mix of tools, and they're paying through the nose for it! It’s wild how fragmented the toolset landscape has become, and Day 2 of DevOpsDays Rockies highlighted even more ways we can rethink our approach. Here are the three biggest takeaways that really shook things up:

1. Experiment Like a Scientist—But Cooler

In tech, we talk about experiments all the time, but Day 2 challenged us to rethink how we approach them. Instead of loosely calling anything an experiment, why not dive into real scientific thinking? Set your hypothesis, run tests, and adjust based on data—not gut feeling. Whether it's observability or troubleshooting, treating your work like an actual experiment sharpens your focus, accelerates learning, and makes debugging feel less like a guessing game and more like detective work. If you’re not experimenting, are you even innovating?

2. Open Source Isn’t a Hobby—It’s a Lifeline

One of the most eye-opening moments came from a discussion about open-source sustainability. Spoiler alert: it’s in trouble. Over 60% of open-source maintainers are unpaid hobbyists, and only 12% make a full living from it. We’re talking about the very backbone of today’s software infrastructure being kept alive by passion alone! The message was clear—if we want open source to thrive, companies need to invest in it like their business depends on it. Because guess what? It does.

3. Ensemble Programming—Your New Power Move

Forget pair programming—ensemble programming is the next level! Imagine a whole team working on the same code, at the same time, with ideas flowing like a well-oiled machine. This method boosts knowledge sharing, reduces bottlenecks, and supercharges your workflow. If you're aiming for faster innovation and fewer knowledge silos, this is the programming paradigm to embrace. Plus, it’s a lot more fun than coding solo in the dark.

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Day 2 of DevOpsDays Rockies wasn’t just another day of talks—it was a call to action. Whether you're pushing the boundaries of experimentation, committing to open source, or leveling up your team’s programming game, there's something here to fuel your next big move. And if you haven’t already, you've got to get to Denver the next time DevOpsDays happens. The community here is awesome, and the conversations alone are worth the trip. Get ready, because the future of DevOps is unfolding right before our eyes.