Human Operators
Human Operators is a methodology in software development and IT operations that emphasizes the critical role of human expertise, judgment, and intervention in managing complex systems, particularly in DevOps and SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) contexts. It focuses on designing systems that require human oversight for tasks like incident response, decision-making, and handling edge cases that automation cannot fully address. This approach balances automation with human control to ensure reliability, safety, and adaptability in production environments.
Developers should learn about Human Operators when working on high-stakes systems where automation alone is insufficient, such as in finance, healthcare, or critical infrastructure, to prevent failures and ensure ethical compliance. It is essential for implementing DevOps and SRE practices effectively, as it helps teams design systems that leverage human skills for monitoring, troubleshooting, and strategic improvements. This methodology reduces risks by ensuring that humans remain in the loop for complex decisions, especially during incidents or when dealing with ambiguous scenarios.