Normalization Stage

The normalization stage establishes the foundational practices that every development team needs. This stage focuses on creating consistency and basic automation to eliminate chaos and enable collaboration.

Stage Overview

Key Practices

1. Version Control Systems

Objective: Track and manage all codebase changes effectively

Implementation:

• Git Repository Setup: Centralized repositories with clear ownership
• Branching Strategy: Simple workflow (main + feature branches)
• Commit Standards: Conventional commit messages for clarity
• Access Control: Proper permissions and team access management

Success Criteria:

• 100% of code is under version control
• All changes go through pull requests
• Commit history is clear and traceable
• No direct pushes to main branch

2. Development Guidelines

Objective: Promote consistency and clarity in development practices

Implementation:

• Coding Standards: Language-specific style guides and linting rules
• Code Review Process: Mandatory peer reviews with clear checklist
• Documentation Requirements: README files, API docs, architecture decisions
• Definition of Done: Clear criteria for completing work

Success Criteria:

• Consistent code style across all projects
• All code changes reviewed by peers
• Documentation exists for all public interfaces
• New team members can contribute within first week

3. Standardized Systems

Objective: Streamline collaboration and reduce complexity

Implementation:

• Development Tools: IDE configurations, extensions, and plugins
• Package Management: Centralized dependency management and security scanning
• Build Systems: Consistent build tools and scripts across projects
• Local Environment: Standardized development environment setup

Success Criteria:

• All developers use same core toolset
• Dependencies are managed centrally
• Builds are reproducible across environments
• New developer setup takes < 2 hours

4. Configuration Management

Objective: Manage environments consistently and securely

Implementation:

• Environment Configuration: Clear separation of dev/staging/prod configs
• Infrastructure Definitions: Version-controlled infrastructure setup
• Secret Management: Secure storage and rotation of sensitive data
• Deployment Scripts: Repeatable deployment procedures

Success Criteria:

• No secrets in source code
• Environment differences are explicit
• Deployments are scripted and repeatable
• Infrastructure changes are tracked

Implementation Roadmap

Week 1-2: Version Control Foundation

• Set up Git repositories for all projects
• Define branching strategy and commit standards
• Configure access controls and permissions
• Train team on Git workflows

Week 3-4: Development Guidelines

• Create coding standards and style guides
• Set up automated linting and formatting
• Define code review process and checklist
• Document development practices

Week 5-6: Tool Standardization

• Standardize IDE configurations and extensions
• Set up package management and security scanning
• Create consistent build scripts
• Document developer environment setup

Week 7-8: Configuration Management

• Implement environment configuration patterns
• Set up secret management system
• Create deployment scripts
• Document operational procedures

Common Challenges & Solutions

Challenge: Resistance to Standards

Problem: Developers prefer their own tools and workflows Solution:

• Involve team in creating standards
• Focus on problems standards solve
• Start with minimal viable standards
• Show productivity improvements

Challenge: Legacy Code Integration

Problem: Existing code doesn’t follow new standards Solution:

• Apply standards to new code first
• Gradually refactor legacy code
• Use automated tools where possible
• Prioritize high-impact areas

Challenge: Tool Proliferation

Problem: Too many different tools across teams Solution:

• Audit current tool usage
• Identify core requirements
• Choose one tool per category
• Provide migration support

Success Metrics

Metric	Target	Measurement
Code Under Version Control	100%	Repository audit
Code Review Coverage	100%	Pull request analysis
Style Guide Compliance	>95%	Linter reports
Build Success Rate	>98%	CI system metrics
Developer Onboarding Time	<2 weeks	Survey feedback
Deployment Success Rate	>95%	Deployment logs

Tools & Technologies

Recommended Stack

• Version Control: Git + GitHub/GitLab
• Code Quality: ESLint, Prettier, SonarQube
• Package Management: npm/yarn, Maven, pip
• Build Tools: Webpack, Gradle, Make
• Secret Management: HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager
• Documentation: Markdown, OpenAPI, ADRs

Next Stage

Once normalization is solid, you’re ready for Standardization - where you’ll adopt deployment patterns, Golden Path workflows, and Infrastructure as Code.

Remember: Don’t rush to automation without solid foundations. Master the basics first, then build upon them systematically.