Ddev
# DIRAC Development Meeting (Ddev)
**At CERN**: Chris, Federico, Andre
**On Zoom**: Yan, Heloise, Jorge, Loris, Hideki
**Apologies**: Stella, Alexandre
## Product Goals & Roadmaps
- Transition to DiracX:
```mermaid
flowchart LR
subgraph CWL["CWL"]
CWL1("CWL submission endpoint"):::inprogress
CWL2("CWL production system")
CWL3("Transformation system machinery"):::blocked
CWL4("Use CWL natively in new matcher"):::blocked
end
subgraph Core["Core"]
CoreTasks("Tasks"):::inprogress
Core2("RSS"):::inprogress
Core3("DMS")
end
subgraph WMS["WMS"]
WMS1("Matcher"):::inprogress
WMS2("Pilot authentication"):::inprogress
WMS3("Pilot submission"):::blocked
end
CWL3 --> CWL4
CoreTasks --> Core2 --> Core3
CoreTasks --> WMS1
CoreTasks --> CWL3
WMS1 --> CWL4
CoreTasks --> WMS3
click CoreTasks "https://www.github.com" "This is a tooltip for a link"
classDef done fill:#B2DFDB,stroke:#00897B,color:black,stroke-width:2px;
classDef inprogress fill:#FFF9C4,stroke:#F9A825,color:black,stroke-width:2px;
classDef blocked fill:#BBBBBB,stroke:#222222,color:black,stroke-width:2px;
subgraph Legend
L2("Completed"):::done
L4("In progress"):::inprogress
L1("Ready for work")
L3("Blocked"):::blocked
end
```
- CWL integration:
```mermaid
flowchart LR
subgraph dirac_cwl["dirac-cwl"]
job1("Prototype Job Endpoint"):::done
transformation("Prototype Transformation Endpoint"):::inprogress
workflows("Workflows"):::inprogress
prod("Prototype Production Endpoint"):::inprogress
end
subgraph DiracX1["DiracX"]
prod_diracx("Implement the CWL Production System")
trans_diracx("Implement the CWL Transformation endpoint")
trans_diracx_original("Implement the Transformation System"):::blocked
diracx_tasks("Implement DiracX Tasks"):::blocked
job_diracx("Implement the CWL Job Endpoint"):::inprogress
end
diracx_tasks --> trans_diracx_original
trans_diracx_original --> trans_diracx
transformation --> trans_diracx
job1 --> workflows
prod --> prod_diracx
prod_diracx -.-> deliver2(["Can submit productions to DiracX /productions"]):::milestone
trans_diracx -.-> deliver3(["Can submit transformations to DiracX /transformations"]):::milestone
job_diracx -.-> deliver5(["Can submit jobs to DiracX /jobs"]):::milestone
classDef done fill:#B2DFDB,stroke:#00897B,color:black,stroke-width:2px;
classDef inprogress fill:#FFF9C4,stroke:#F9A825,color:black,stroke-width:2px;
classDef blocked fill:#BBBBBB,stroke:#222222,color:black,stroke-width:2px;
classDef milestone fill:#FFDFE5,stroke:#FF5978,color:#8E2236,stroke-width:2px;
subgraph Legend
L1("Completed"):::done
L2("In progress"):::inprogress
L3("Ready for work")
L4("Blocked"):::blocked
L5("Milestone"):::milestone
end
```
## Refinements
### Needs triage
https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/7
**Goal: build a shared understanding of the project.**
> DIRAC
- [IAMSync and escaped commas in DN](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/issues/8523)
- [DictCache issue? (blocked)](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/issues/8472) - needs confirmation from GridPP
- [Certification Instance](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/issues/7658)
> DiracOS2
- [Handle updates?](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRACOS2/issues/30)
- [Python warnings](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRACOS2/issues/146)
- [htcondor25](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRACOS2/issues/169) - new comments from Daniela, not addressed
> WebAppDIRAC
> diracx-web
- [Oauth2-proxy](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx-web/issues/482)
- [Sync types with backend openapi](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx-web/issues/237)
> diracx
- [Scrap use of local git repo](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/875)
- [CWL job submission endpoint](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/858)
- [CLI tests](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/pull/104) - oldest PR in diracx. [name=Chris] will ressurect it later.
- [Config mechanism](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/830) - comment from Federico, not addressed
- [Integrate MCP Server](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/827) - still needs to be discussed on DOps first
- [RSS](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/790)
- [Phase1](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/836)
- [Phase2](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/diracx/issues/889)
> Pilot
> diracx-charts
> container-images
- Shall we archive [container-images](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/container-images)? still secret image in there, can be useful so we keep it (the DIRAC images in `management` will slowly died and be archived)
- 22/04 [name=Alexandre] Will remove `diracx`-based images and add a note on the latest diracx images built with it
- 29/04: No update
> dirac-cwl
- [assigning an output sandbox to a job from the api](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/dirac-cwl/issues/92)
- [dirac-cwl executor tests](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/dirac-cwl/issues/116)
> signurlarity
- [Factorize benchmark functions](https://github.com/DIRACGrid/signurlarity/issues/25)
**External deps**
### [Temporary Section] In progress, predating the new organization
https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/8
Various people still need to deal with old and staled PRs. We will take them into account in the next sprints.
### External dependencies
https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/9
---
[Planning Poker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning_poker)
Story points values (based on Fibo)
- `1pt`: Trivial, very clear (small bug fix, config change)
- `2pts`: Small, well understood (small feature, clear requirements)
- `3pts`: Medium, some unknowns (moderate feature)
- `5pts`: Large, significant complexity (major feature, integration)
- `8pts`: Very large, many unknowns (should probably be split)
- `13+pts`: TOO BIG - must split!
- `?`: not enough knowledge to answer (remember it's ok to ask any questions)
## Sprints
### Planning (Velocity and Planning Poker)
- Backlog: https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/3
- Current Sprint: https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/1

**Average Velocity: 3.07 x FTEs** *Last update: Jan 21st*
#### :warning: Velocity is a planning tool, not a performance target
- Velocity going down is NOT bad
- Velocity going up is NOT always good (might mean over-estimation)
- Velocity varies sprint-to-sprint
- We track it to improve estimation, not to judge people
**What affects velocity:**
- Estimation accuracy (we're still learning)
- Complexity of work
**Our focus:** Delivering value and hitting commitments, not maximizing velocity numbers.
### May 14th (IN PROGRESS):
#### Target and Context
> Chris & Christophe will deliver diracx-tasks
- Clean up existing issues/PRs: [Burning Charts](https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/insights?period=3M)
- Finish Phase1 of the RSS migration
- Finish Phase1-2 of the Matcher
- More diracx cleanup
- Make diracx-web stable
#### Availability
- [name=alexandre] 50%
- [name=natthan]
- [name=luisa]
- [name=loris] 80%
- [name=stella]
- [name=jorge] 70%
- [name=ryun] 50%
- [name=federico] 0%
- [name=heloise] 40%
- [name=christophe]
- [name=chris] 0%
- [name=janusz]
- [name=mazen]
- [name=andrei]
- [name=yan] 100%
- [name=daniela]
_ FTEs * _ = _ story points
Expected Story Points:
Persons:
Expected Velocity:
#### Sprint Planning:
- Backlog: https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/3
- Sprint: https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/1
### April 30th (DONE):
Expected Story Points: 68
Persons: 4.1
Expected Velocity: 16.5
*42 Story Points / 4.1 people = 10.2 velocity*
Comments:
- ~1/4 of the counted SP come from the integration of the tasks
- `diracx-tasks` are here :tada:
- All the essential components are here to transition now.
- RSS Phase1:
- Should have been completed but it's still under development. [name=Loris] any blocking point?
- New Matcher:
- working on a v0.2 schema design expliciting more details about what we want
- Work is on track, [name=Alexandre] needs to keep up and review faster
#### Sprint review: https://github.com/orgs/DIRACGrid/projects/30/views/11
Related to our goals:
- **DIRAC to DiracX transition:**
- `diracx-tasks` as a replacement for DIRAC Agents
- Mostly bug fixes
- **CWL integration:**
- NTR
- **Match-Making POC:**
- NTR
- **DIRAC maintenance:**
- Mostly bug fixes
#### Sprint retrospective
*The sprint is a boat :boat: ; we are trying to reach an island (target); identify anchors (what slowed you down), wind (what helped), and rocks ahead (risks for next sprint)*
:warning: **Focus on the process, not people. We're here to improve together! 🚀**
**:anchor: Anchors (what slowed you down)**
- *Example: Unclear requirements on X; Waiting for Y delayed Z; ...*
**:cloud: Wind (what helped)**
- *Example: Good communication in weekly meetings; Quick code reviews; Clear acceptance criteria on user stories; ...*
**🪨 Rocks (risks for next sprint)**
- *Example: Team member K on vacation; Dependency on external API L; Technical debt in M; ...*
- LHCb is preparing for CHEP and also for a cross experiment meeting.
---
### Previous Sprints
#### Summary
- April 16th:
- *20 Story Points / 2.6 people = 7.7 velocity*
- Comments:
- Less people available during the sprint (holidays, CTAO had deadlines). Also some people seemed to spend more time than originally described, some of them less time.
- A lot of bug fixes that were not planned
- April 2nd:
- *37 Story Points / 3.1 people = 11.9 velocity*
- Comments: NTR
- March 19th:
- *23 Story Points / 3.5 people = 7.2 velocity*
- Comments:
- Need to adapt the velocity computation because we are processing a lot of tasks not planned originally in the sprint (which is expected since we still have a lot of PRs without any attached issue to process, ...)
- March 5th:
- *19 Story Points / 2.8 people = 6.8 velocity*
- Comments:
- Less people available during this sprint, but more realistic expectation, we almost reached the expected velocity!!
- LHCb AI hackathon: [name=Alexandre] was much less available than expected.
- Took into account items that were in progress before scrum process (added some SP): resurrecting diracx-web, RSS simplified...
- February 19th:
- *38 Story Points / 4.4 people = 8.6 velocity*
- Comments:
- French holidays
- [name=Alexandre] was more available than expected, but did not manage to quickly follow all the PRs.
- A few tasks have been delayed (10 SP): waiting for further discussion on scheduling and diagrams for new LHCb workflows
- Lot of "unplanned" items: expected as long as we have to deal with the large backlog of old items.
- February 5th:
- *29 Story Points / 3.1 people = 9.4 velocity*
- Comments:
- LHCb-CERN had a computing workshop
- Various people worked on old PRs I did not take into account :warning:
- January 21st:
- *6 Story Points / 2.5 people = 2.4 velocity*
- Comments:
- LHCb-CERN had a team retreat, LHCb-Spain had a conference.
- January 7th:
- *15 Story Points / 3.9 people = 3.8 velocity*
- Comments:
- No specific comment, the sprint was split by the holidays.
- December 10th:
- *6 Story Points / 3 people = 2 velocity*
- Comments:
- About the same as the previous sprint: still a gap between expected/actual availability
- November 26th:
- *6 Story Points / 3 people = 2 velocity*
- Comments:
- Much lower than the previous sprint because it included tasks started before the sprint.
- Lots of "almost done" PRs: we are improving the description of the tasks and their size but still not enough (each task should bring value though).
- November 10th:
- *22 Story Points / 4.3 people = 5.1 velocity*
#### Actionable Results from the Retrospective
- **Action:** Feature PRs should be thoroughly tested in certification.
- Owner: developers
- When: Sprint12
- Status: 29/04/26 In Progress
- **Action:** Avoid verbose (AI-generated) issues with many implementation details that can deprecate over time.
- Owner: developers and product owners
- When: Sprint11
- Status: 15/04/26 In Progress
- **Action:** Better view of the PRs ready to be reviewed vs needing changes.
- Owner: developers
- When: Sprint8
- Status: 15/04/26 In Progress
- **Action:** Better communicate when a PR is going to be big, as soon as possible. Split the work in this case.
- Owner: developers
- When: Sprint6
- Status: 21/01/26 DONE
- **Action:** Better use of the mattermost channel to get reviews on a given PR
- Owner: everyone
- By when: Sprint3
- Status: 04/02/26 DONE
- **Action:** Define estimates and velocity based on Sprint2's results, taking into account external contributions (bonus Story Points) and availability
- Owner: alexandre
- By when: Sprint3
- Status: DONE
- **Action:** Better define the scrum roles
- Owner: alexandre
- By when: Sprint5
- Status: DONE
- **Action:** Better define `DONE` criteria (what should be included into the PR, and how to make sure we are not introducing too much technical debt)
- Owner: everyone
- By when: Sprint2
- Status: DONE
- **Action:** Avoid planning dependent tasks in a same sprint
- Owner: everyone
- By when: Sprint2
- Status: DONE
## AOB