[PLUG] dev vs production environments

[JP Vossen <jp@jpsdomain.org>]

Arguably at least semi-OT, but it's all about Linux & Java & stuff, 
so...  (Warning, I'm *not* a Java fan.)

I'm having a problem at work convincing some developers that the dev and 
testing environments should match production as close as possible. 
Since this is all Linux stuff, and we have machines and virtualization, 
this seems like it should be a no-brainer to me.  In fact, this is so 
blindingly obvious that I'm having trouble making a stronger argument 
for this than "because it's so blindingly obvious."

Also, much of the dev work is Java, which is "write once, run anywhere," 
right?  Ummm.  No.  I'll agree with "write once, debug everywhere" but 
that's about it.  *Running* a Java app in a production-quality way is a 
*tad* different on Linux and (the horror) Windows...  Even if the "Java 
code" part works, all the rest of the surrounding infrastructure and 
environment (init script, ulimit, user perms, SELinux, ports < 1024 
(like 443)) has to work and be in sync too.  That isn't gonna happen on 
Windows.  (Hell, it's not even happening on Linux, which is part of my 
point.)  And don't get me started on the JBoss part of it...

So...  Am I wrong?  Or is this as blindingly obvious as I think it is? 
And if so, can anyone make a better argument, or point me at some "best 
practices" and/or horror stories I can beat people with?  (I'm Googling 
badly as I can't find anything good.  OK, besides just about everything 
at thedailywtf.com :)

FWIW, we're trying to be "Agile" though we just started and have a 
*long* way to go...

Thanks,
JP
----------------------------|:::======|-------------------------------
JP Vossen, CISSP            |:::======|      http://bashcookbook.com/
My Account, My Opinions     |=========|      http://www.jpsdomain.org/
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