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As software development teams work to streamline and optimise their processes, the importance of collecting and analysing data cannot be overstated.

That's where WayFinder comes in, providing a platform for DevOps teams to gather and analyse data from a variety of sources. In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about connecting a data source to WayFinder, including why it’s important, , the available data sources, how to connect them, and how they relate to four critical metrics.

Connecting a data source to WayFinder allows teams to track and analyse critical metrics, including lead time, deployment frequency, change failure rate, and time to restore. By having access to this information, teams can make data-driven decisions and determine areas for improvement in their software development processes. Additionally, connecting a data source can help teams identify patterns, issues, and trends across various processes, providing deeper insight into team performance.

WayFinder supports three primary source types:

• Source Control
• CICD Pipeline
• Incident Management

These source types are related to the four critical metrics as follows:

• Source Control tracks code changes, which is critical in measuring Lead Time.
• CICD Pipeline tracks the stages of code deployment, which helps teams measure: Lead Time, Deployment Frequency and Change Failure Rate.
• Incident Management tracks issues and outages, which helps calculate Change Failure Rate and Time To Restore.

Connecting a data source to WayFinder is straightforward.

1. Once you have selected the product to which you want to connect a data source
2. Select Configuration in the side bar
3. Follow the data source connection process.

Once a data source has been connected to WayFinder, the system will immediately begin retrieving data.

It is important to note this process may take several hours to complete, depending on the amount of data being retrieved and the speed of the data source.

Once WayFinder starts receiving data, the metric classification tag in the Overview page shifts to one of the four DORA classifications (low, medium, high, elite). The chart will then display the incoming data.

In order to gain the most benefit from WayFinder, you need you connect all 3 data sources for your product.

Then you will have access to all 4 metrics: Lead Time, Deployment Frequency, Change Failure Rate and Time To Restore.

This will allow you to target your improvement efforts where most needed and see the impact on your metrics and your business goals.