In the world of information technology, where millions of lines of code, hundreds of servers, and thousands of users intersect in an endless stream of data, order becomes not merely a recommendation but a necessity. In life as in IT, disorder leads to chaos, wasted time and resources, and ultimately to disasters.
A line from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s book The Little Prince — “There is a hard-and-fast rule: when you’ve finished getting yourself ready in the morning, you must get your planet ready, carefully” — resonates perfectly with the philosophy of working in IT. Here, your “planet” is your systems, projects, codebase, or server infrastructure. Let’s explore why regularly maintaining order is critically important.
The Metaphor: The Planet of IT
In The Little Prince, the hero speaks of the importance of pulling up baobabs, which, while small, seem harmless. But if left unattended, they grow and destroy the planet. In IT, the “baobabs” are the small, unresolved problems, such as:
- Unstructured or poorly written code.
- The absence of regular backups.
- Outdated or abandoned software.
- Bloated or stale server configurations.
- Opaque processes within the team’s work.
- and so on…
At first these problems seem insignificant, but over time their accumulation turns into uncontrolled chaos. Pulling them up at an early stage is far easier than dealing with the consequences of their growth.
Why Do You Need Order in IT?
- System stability. Regular server maintenance, software updates, and monitoring prevent outages and ensure uninterrupted operation. A server that breaks at the wrong moment means not only stress but also potential financial losses.
- Development efficiency. Clean, structured code makes it easier to read, test, and extend. In a project where order is maintained, new developers onboard easily, and veterans work more productively.
- Team comfort. Transparent processes, clear tasks, and documented rules make collaboration within the team comfortable and productive. Everyone knows what’s expected of them and can focus on the work rather than on fighting chaos.
- Data security. Outdated systems, irregular updates, and the absence of backups are a direct path to data loss or information leaks. Order lets you minimize such risks.
How Do You Maintain Order?
- Regular review. Systems, code, and infrastructure need regular auditing. Delete old data, refactor code, update documentation.
- Documentation. Any process or configuration should be written down. This not only simplifies work but also protects against dependence on specific individuals.
- Automating routine tasks. Setting up monitoring, automated backups, or CI/CD systems significantly reduces the likelihood of human error.
- Team discipline. Coding standards, code reviews, and the use of task-management tools help avoid chaos.
The Result: A Stable and Secure Planet of IT
Maintaining order requires discipline, time, and energy, but this effort always pays off. When the infrastructure runs reliably, the codebase adapts easily to change, and the team works in sync, all processes move faster and problems get solved before they turn into disasters.
As in life, order in IT is a daily effort that builds a solid foundation for a successful future. So every day, as you start work, remember the Little Prince’s rule: “Get up, wash, get yourself and your systems in order.” And then your “planet” will be safe.