Swift Package Manager Dora Metrics: Swift Cycle Times, But Updates Could Be Swifter

Ever wondered how your favorite music streaming app ensures smooth audio playback with tools like AudioKit? Or how does it handle all those network requests efficiently using Alamofire? Managing these libraries manually would be chaotic—how do developers keep everything up to date and working seamlessly together?

That’s where Swift Package Manager (SPM) steps in. SPM offers a streamlined way to handle dependencies, making it easier to integrate external libraries, reuse code, and keep your project in sync with the Swift ecosystem. In modern iOS development, SPM isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

We decided to find how seamlessly they ship their updates and the efficiency of their Dora Metrics. We used Middleware OSS to get insights into their engineering pipeline. To know more about Middleware, check our live demo

Also read: What are Dora Metrics?

Swift Package Manager: Juggling Code, Features, and Fast PRs Like a Pro

Ever tried building something big, like a complex iOS app, and felt like juggling a dozen balls in the air? That’s what managing an open-source repository can feel like—especially one like the Swift Package Manager (SPM) repository. But this team seems to have nailed it, at least most of the time, with metrics that speak volumes about their efficiency, collaboration, and ability to stay on top of tasks.

First, let’s see what they are nailing:

What They’re Nailing

1. Efficient CI/CD Process

The team’s ability to maintain short merge times—8.3 hours in July, even though it climbed to 22.43 hours in September—reflects a smooth CI/CD pipeline.

They clearly have streamlined integration and testing workflows that prevent bottlenecks. Quick approvals for PRs, like #7895 and #7878 , which were merged within minutes, showcase just how tightly automated their processes are.

2. Tight-Knit Contributor Base

With 414 active contributors, SPM thrives on a small but dedicated community. Key contributors like MaxDesiatov (Package Manifest changes), AndrewHoos (Concurrency enhancements), and grynspan(Swift testing improvements) aren't just coding—they’re driving innovation and maintaining high standards.

The blend of 35% feature work, 30% bug fixes, and 20% documentation efforts reflects a well-balanced repository, with a community that’s not just reactive but proactive in addressing issues and building new features.

3. Strong First Response Times

Their average first response time of 3.71 hours in August is impressive, showing how responsive and engaged the maintainers are. Even in slower months like July (15.67 hours) and September (12.6 hours), the turnaround time outperforms many repositories, keeping contributors motivated and the project moving forward.

Also read: Material UI Dora Metrics: Ships Updates like a Pro, First Response Times Could Do Better

Areas for Improvement and Recommendations

1. Revisit PR Workflow to Prevent Merge Time Bloat

While the CI/CD processes are solid, the jump in merge time from 8.3 to 22.43 hours in September hints at either increased complexity in PRs or bottlenecks in review processes.

The team could consider introducing automated code reviewers or templates for common PRs to streamline approval further.

2. Maintain Merged PR Frequency Above Benchmark

The drop to 30 merged PRs in September is a bit concerning, especially when they had been consistently hitting 50+ in previous months. Maybe it was a quieter month, or perhaps bigger feature updates like concurrency enhancements by AndrewHoos and command-line improvements took more time than anticipated. Either way, it’s a dip worth keeping an eye on.

To stay above industry benchmarks set by the State of DevOps 2023 benchmark, the team could establish quarterly sprint goals and reward contributors to maintain momentum. Encouraging small, incremental PRs rather than large feature dumps might also help sustain merge frequency.

3. Expand the Core Contributor Pool

With only a handful of key contributors driving major changes, the community is at risk of burnout. The team could mentor newer contributors and create onboarding tasks to spread responsibilities more evenly. This could also help mitigate risks associated with losing key contributors.

4. Monitor Long-Term Trends in Cycle Time

The rise in cycle time to 35.97 hours in September might indicate that more complex tasks are piling up.

While it’s expected with features like concurrency improvements, keeping an eye on this trend and prioritizing PRs by complexity can prevent long-term delays.

Also read: Tailwind CSS Dora Metrics: Impressive Cycle Time, Merged PRs Need Attention

Swift Package Manager Dora Metrics: Swift Cycle Times, But Updates Could Be Swifter

The Swift Package Manager repository showcases an efficient machine with its robust CI/CD pipelines and a tight-knit community of just 414 contributors punching well above their weight. Their ability to maintain short response times and keep a healthy mix of feature work, bug fixes, documentation, and tests speaks volumes about the efficiency of their workflow.

However, the drop in merged PRs and rising cycle and merge times toward September suggest the need for a few strategic tweaks—possibly streamlining PR approvals and expanding the contributor base to share the load. Overall, SPM stands as a testament to how a small but dedicated community can drive innovation and maintain high standards, ensuring the project not only survives but thrives.

If you are grappling with engineering dilemmas, then write to us at productivity@middlewarehq.com and we would be happy to help you provide actionable insights into your workflow or you can also try tracking your Dora metrics yourself using Middleware Open Source that too for free!

Did you know?

Platform loyalty!

SPM is baked right into Xcode (as of version 11), meaning Apple gave it the royal treatment by deeply integrating it. It’s also the preferred way to manage dependencies in Apple’s Swift Playgrounds app.

Further Resources

Swift Package Manager Documentation

Middleware and Dora Metrics

Continuous Integration Guides

Dora Metrics Methodology