How can I implement a walking skeleton?
I am currently engaged in a particular task which is related to developing a new software application from scratch. How can I go about executing a walking skeleton to ensure the basic structure and also the Integrations are in place before adding more and more features?
In the context of DevOps, a walking skeleton in software development refers to the minimal execution which includes just enough functionality to demonstrate end-to-end flow and integration between the Components. Here is how you can implement this:
Setting up basic infrastructure
First, you would need to set up the foundational infrastructure of your particular application. This generally would involve the creation of the project structure, setting up version control, and also establishing a basic build system.
Implementation of the core components
You can develop the core components which are very essential for the applications to function minimally. For the Instance, if it is a web-based application, you can create a simple web-based server with a basic landing page.
Integration of key services
You can integrate key external services or even the database that your application would rely on. This could involve setting up a particular database connection or even Integration with the external APIs.
End-to-end workflow
You can also implement a complete end-to-end workflow which can demonstrate the flow of the data or even actions through the system. For instance, if your application includes the authentication of the users then you can implement a basic login functionality.
Automated testing
You can set up automated tests such as unit tests and even the integration tests even if they cover just the core functionality. This can ensure that as you build upon the skeleton, you will have a safety net for catching regression.
Here is an example in coding given by assuming that you are building a web-based application by using node.js and express:
// index.js – Entry point for the application
Const express = require(‘express’);
Const app = express();
// Simple route to serve a landing page
App.get(‘/’, (req, res) => {
Res.send(‘Welcome to the Walking Skeleton of our application!’);
});
// Start the server
Const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
App.listen(port, () => {
Console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${port}`);
});
This particular code would set up a basic web-based server by using express.js which would serve as a simple landing page. It would Demonstrate the foundational structure that would needed for further development.
If you implement a walking skeleton early in your software development cycle then you can easily ensure that the foundational architecture and Integration would be in place automatically which would allow subsequent feature development for building upon a solid foundation.