More than surveys: Capturing real-time data about developer experience

Improving developer experience poses the challenge of proving the impact of enhancements, often relying on lagging survey data influenced by biases. User Experience Objectives (UXOs) provide a real-time solution by setting performance benchmarks for developer tools, such as ensuring minimal waiting times for operations like git pull or file saving. These objectives help quantify how often developers encounter "bad days" based on tool performance, offering a way to set goals and measure progress in developer experience improvement. UXOs differ from Service Level Objectives (SLOs) as they are not immediate crisis indicators but rather agreements on tool performance expectations. While UXOs can influence internal tool performance, they also highlight non-engineering bottlenecks, such as cumbersome procurement processes, affecting overall software delivery. Although not definitive metrics, UXOs serve as a dynamic tool to capture the value of developer experience improvements and foster innovation in addressing software engineers' pain points.