# Systems Software in the Large

- Show: [Oxide and Friends](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends)
- Published: 2025-09-25
- Length: 1h 44m
- Episode: 28
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/20b6e3dc

## Summary

Dave Pacheco, leading Oxide Computer Company's Update project, explains the architectural and organizational challenges of building a full-system, self-service update mechanism for rack-scale computers. He details the use of the 'plan-execute' pattern, 'rendezvous tables', and Dropshot versioning to manage complex state transitions and ensure system reliability during updates. The discussion highlights strategies to combat 'organizational procrastination' and maintain focus on long-term goals through daily water cooler meetings, demo-driven planning, and rigorous scope management.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=0) Introduction: Dave Pacheco and the Update Project
- [6:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=412) The Genesis and Scope of the Update Initiative
- [18:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=1104) Autonomous Updates and the Plan-Execute Pattern
- [28:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=1695) Planned vs. Unplanned Work and Important Non-Blockers
- [41:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=2478) Date-Driven Development and Scope Cutting
- [56:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=3374) Organizational Procrastination and Maintaining Focus
- [1:04:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=3884) The Update Water Cooler and Demo-Driven Planning
- [1:29:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large#t=5390) Dropshot Versioning and API Divergence Management

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Oxide Computer Company (company)
- Update (product)
- Dropshot (tool)
- Reconfigurator (product)
- Nexus (product)
- Cockroach (other)
- DTrace (tool)
- Wireshark (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [34: Really Big Cabbage](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-09-34-really-big-cabbage) (Embedded.fm)
- [#002: The secrets to building secure & scalable OTA infrastructure with Nick Sinas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2024-12-18-002-the-secrets-to-building-secure-scalable-ota-infrastructure-with-nick-sinas) (Coredump Sessions)
- [390: Irresponsible At the Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-21-390-irresponsible-at-the-time) (Embedded.fm)
- [Revolutionizing IoT Device Management: Updating the World with Peridio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-08-01-revolutionizing-iot-device-management-updating-the-world-with-peridio) (Over the Air)
- [Agile at Growing Hardware Startups with Matt Cole](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-04-19-agile-at-growing-hardware-startups-with-matt-cole) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-25-systems-software-in-the-large. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Oxide and Friends.