What caused the sudden spike in failed builds on Netlify Deploy last week?

Introduction

The sudden spike in failed builds on Netlify Deploy last week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. As we dive into this problem, we'll employ a systematic approach to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term fixes and long-term implications for our deployment process.

I'll begin by gathering essential context, then methodically break down the issue, generate data-driven hypotheses, and propose a comprehensive plan to resolve the problem and prevent future occurrences.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this might be related to a recent deployment or configuration change. Has there been any significant update to our build process or Netlify settings in the past week?

Why it matters: Recent changes often trigger unexpected issues. Expected answer: Yes, we updated our build configuration. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the recent changes first.

• Considering the scope, I'm curious about the extent of the issue. What percentage of builds are failing compared to our normal baseline?

Why it matters: Helps quantify the severity and urgency of the problem. Expected answer: A 30% increase in failed builds. Impact on approach: A large increase would prioritize immediate action over gradual fixes.

• Thinking about user impact, are these failed builds affecting all projects or specific types of deployments?

Why it matters: Identifies if the issue is systemic or isolated to certain conditions. Expected answer: Primarily affecting projects with complex build processes. Impact on approach: Would guide us to focus on specific build configurations or dependencies.

• Regarding error patterns, are we seeing any consistent error messages or logs associated with these failed builds?

Why it matters: Common error patterns can quickly point to specific issues. Expected answer: Yes, there's a recurring "dependency not found" error. Impact on approach: Would direct our investigation towards dependency management and build environment.

• Considering external factors, have there been any changes to Netlify's infrastructure or services that coincide with our spike in failed builds?

Why it matters: Rules out issues beyond our control. Expected answer: No known Netlify-side changes. Impact on approach: Would shift focus entirely to our own codebase and configurations.