Should Developers Have Access To Production?

WHiTe VaMPiRe writes "Kyle Brandt recently wrote an editorial exploring the implications of providing developers access to the production servers of a Web site. He explores the risk introduced by providing higher level access as well as potential compromise solutions."

Re:For me

[stillpixel]

User: There is an error on page X
I tweak that page code on the production server after looking at the error log. Me back to User: An error really? Have you tried pressing F5?
User: Oh.. hmmm I guess I must have done something wrong. Sorry for bugging you!
Me: Hey, no problem.

überdev

[Anonymous Coward]

I am one of the few people who can run correct code the first time round. I am also proficient enough in OS matters to be able to circumvent access to locked down resources. So I don't care what this post says, I'm doing it myyyyy waaaaay.

Re:As a developer: read-only access

[EricWright]

You gotta know how to talk to admins. Tell them they also can be replaced by a very small shell script.

Re:What a silly question.

[John Hasler]

> There's a difference?

Sure. The monkey is trained.

Re:What a silly question.

[vegiVamp]

As a systems admin, I can assure you that there is definitely a difference.

Trained monkeys get free bananas and are allowed to fondle their bits in public, to name but two.

Re:For me

[characterZer0]

Unfortunately, copying prod to test does not copy the users, which are often an integral part of the error.

Re:For me

[es330td]

I did this once and hosed a production Informix system. We had over 100 external users call in before it was realized and fixed. Fortunately, I did it because my manager told me to so I kept my job and she was reprimanded for A) changing production and B) asking someone else to do it and not doing it herself. I learned my lesson and in the subsequent 10 years have never modified a production system without thorough dev testing first.

And the winner is ...

[galego]

... in a split decision, vi wins. Oh wait ... wrong holy war!

I think I speak for all programmers when I say

[geekoid]

No. Do not give developers access to the production machine ever, except me...just this once..