The overwhelming majority of a software systems lifespan is spent in use, not in design or implementation. So, why does conventional wisdom insist that software engineers focus primarily on the design and development of large-scale computing systems?

In this collection of essays and articles, key members of Googles Site Reliability Team explain how and why their commitment to the entire lifecycle has enabled the company to successfully build, deploy, monitor, and maintain some of the largest software systems in the world. Youll learn the principles and practices that enable Google engineers to make systems more scalable, reliable, and efficientlessons directly applicable to your organization.

This book is divided into four sections:

• IntroductionLearn what site reliability engineering is and why it differs from conventional IT industry practices
• PrinciplesExamine the patterns, behaviors, and areas of concern that influence the work of a site reliability engineer (SRE)
• PracticesUnderstand the theory and practice of an SREs day-to-day work: building and operating large distributed computing systems
• ManagementExplore Google's best practices for training, communication, and meetings that your organization can use