The Yun Layer: Stages and Cycles of System Evolution
Yun (运) here refers to the developmental stages and temporal rhythms experienced by a system, which can be understood as the lifecycle cycles or “fortune” of infrastructure.
Large-scale infrastructure is not static but evolves cyclically through the Exploration Period, Platform Period, Scale Period, and Rebalancing Period, with each stage having its primary contradictions and tasks.
Below are the four evolutionary stages.
Exploration Period (Initial Stage)
Characteristics: High variance, low structure, rapid trial and error
At this stage, new technologies and requirements emerge constantly, system architecture is loose, and diverse experiments coexist.
Primary Tasks:
- Explore effective paths
- Rapidly validate model and functional directions
- Collect data and preliminary stability signals
Five Elements Characteristics: Wood and Fire in Command
- Model innovation (Wood) and computing experimentation (Fire) are core drivers
- Expansion (Yang) outweighs constraints (Yin)
Architecture Strategy:
- ✓ Tolerate some chaos
- ✓ Encourage innovation and iteration
- ✓ Focus on collecting data and preliminary stability signals
- ✗ Don’t prematurely introduce heavy processes and restrictions
Platform Period (Growth Stage)
Characteristics: Standardization emerges, interfaces and processes converge
After exploration, the system enters a stage of integration and regulation, beginning to establish unified platforms, standard interfaces, and governance processes, consolidating scattered results into platform capabilities.
Primary Tasks:
- Establish unified platforms
- Define standard interfaces
- Consolidate governance processes
Five Elements Characteristics: Fire Generates Earth
- Successful practices in computing and functionality (Fire) give rise to platform support requirements (Earth)
- Governance and standards gradually strengthen
Architecture Strategy:
- ✓ Extract common requirements
- ✓ Build support platforms (Yin increases)
- ✓ Lay the foundation for next-stage scaling
- ✗ Don’t remain in disordered exploration
Scale Period (Mature Stage)
Characteristics: Efficiency, throughput, and cost become the main battlefield
The system is deployed at scale, and focus shifts to optimizing efficiency and costs, improving throughput and reliability.
Primary Tasks:
- Optimize efficiency
- Improve throughput
- Reduce costs
- Ensure reliability
Five Elements Characteristics: Heavy Earth Breaks Wood
- Platforms (Earth) and hard constraints begin to dominate
- Overly idealistic model expansion (Wood) will encounter setbacks from realistic conditions
Architecture Strategy:
- ✓ Strengthen monitoring and automated operations
- ✓ Control overly strong “Yang” through governance means
- ✓ Ensure robust system operation
- ✗ Don’t continue with startup-era casual practices
Rebalancing/Substitution Period (Renewal Stage)
Characteristics: Old structures are corrected or replaced by new structures
When the previous stage’s patterns reach their limits, the system either enters self-correction by introducing new elements to rebalance, or gets disrupted and replaced by a new paradigm.
Primary Tasks:
- Introduce new elements to rebalance
- Or accept substitution by a new paradigm
Five Elements Characteristics: Metal and Water Rise Again
- Suppressed hardware/rule innovations (Metal) and new data potentials (Water) rise again
- Driving system transformation
Architecture Strategy:
- ✓ Be forward-looking, dare to break through
- ✓ Transition smoothly, avoid severe volatility
- ✗ Don’t cling to the status quo
Evolutionary Cycle
The above stages form a cyclical pattern, where the endpoint of each stage is also the starting point of the next ↻.
The Art of Following the Momentum
A mature infrastructure organization should be able to determine its current stage based on internal and external signals and adjust its strategy accordingly.
If stage transitions are ignored or excessively rushed, the system will experience disturbances or even crises
Error Examples
| Erroneous Behavior | Manifestation | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling Up Seedlings to Help Them Grow | Managing systems still in exploration period as scaled systems, prematurely suppressing change | Stifling innovation |
| Going Against the Momentum | Remaining in disordered exploration when it’s time to enter the platform period | Missing the window for structured growth and creating hidden risks |
| Clinging to the Status Quo | Unwilling to change when rebalancing period is needed | System rigidity and aging |
Stage Assessment Checklist
Through the “Yun” layer perspective, teams can examine the current macro stage:
- Are we validating new concepts or expanding our achievements?
- What is the system’s primary contradiction?
- When might the next stage arrive?
- Does our strategy align with the current stage?
Example Questions:
- Are we in the exploration period?
- If yes → Focus on rapid trial and error and validation
- If no → Consider whether to enter the platform period
- Does our system need standardization?
- If yes → Enter platform period, establish platforms and standards
- If no → Continue exploration