I love the fact that we’re constantly seeking incremental improvements for our OSS. However, cumulative OSS changes can be a double-edged sword, just as they can be in the cosmetic surgery industry. In both cases, these well intentioned changes can distort as readily as they can improve.
Photo-collage courtesy of DailyMail.co.uk.
I’ve seen OSS go from being open, intuitive, adaptable and flexible tools to being so customised for a single client purpose that they need additional reconstructive work for even the tiniest change (eg process revision, network configuration / topology type, new card type in an existing device, etc).
Embarking on a course of incremental customisation, such as an Agile methodology, can become dangerous without careful consideration. Be vigilant of where your changes might be guiding you.