The 12-Factor App

The “12 Factor App” offers a set of best practices for building modern software applications. Following these 12 principles can help developers and teams in building reliable, scalable, and manageable applications.

Here’s a brief overview of each principle:

I. Codebase

Have one place to keep all your code, and manage it using version control like Git.

II. Dependencies

List all the things your app needs to work properly, and make sure they’re easy to install.

III. Config

Keep important settings like database credentials separate from your code, so you can change them without rewriting code.

IV. Backing Services

Use other services (like databases or payment processors) as separate components that your app connects to.

V. Build, Release, Run

Make a clear distinction between preparing your app, releasing it, and running it in production.

VI. Processes

Design your app so that each part doesn’t rely on a specific computer or memory. It’s like making LEGO blocks that fit together.

VII. Port Binding

Let your app be accessible through a network port, and make sure it doesn’t store critical information on a single computer.

VIII. Concurrency

Make your app able to handle more work by adding more copies of the same thing, like hiring more workers for a busy restaurant.

IX. Disposability

Your app should start quickly and shut down gracefully, like turning off a light switch instead of yanking out the power cord.

X. Dev/Prod Parity

Ensure that what you use for developing your app is very similar to what you use in production, to avoid surprises.

XI. Logs

Keep a record of what happens in your app so you can understand and fix issues, like a diary for your software.

XII. Admin Processes

Run special tasks separately from your app, like doing maintenance work in a workshop instead of on the factory floor.