Blog
Golden paths beat golden rules
Why providing clear, opinionated defaults works better than enforcing rigid policies.
The problem with rules
Traditional IT governance often relies on "golden rules": policies, compliance checklists, and approval gates. These create bottlenecks, reduce autonomy, and frustrate developers.
Rules don't scale. They require enforcement, create exceptions, and accumulate technical debt.
Enter golden paths
Golden paths are default, opinionated ways of doing things that make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard. They're templates, starter kits, and internal developer platforms that guide without constraining.
Examples
- Deployment templates: A standard CI/CD pipeline that everyone can use
- Service starter kits: Pre-configured applications with monitoring, logging, and security
- Infrastructure patterns: Terraform modules for common architectures
Why they work
- Low friction: Developers don't need to figure things out
- Consistency: All services follow the same patterns
- Safety: Security and best practices are built-in
- Speed: Faster delivery with less cognitive load
Implementation tips
Start small. Pick one common task and create a golden path for it. Make it easy to find and use. Gather feedback and iterate.
Remember: golden paths are defaults, not mandates. Teams can deviate when needed—just document why.
At DetaVolt™, we help teams build golden paths. Talk to us to learn more.