Dispatch

Dispatch addresses the complex and often ad-hoc nature of incident management by automating and orchestrating the process, integrating with existing tools such as Slack, GSuite, and Jira. This approach leverages the familiarity of these tools to manage incident timelines, documentation, and participant coordination, allowing teams to focus on resolving the incident itself.

Technically, Dispatch is designed with an API-first approach, enabling extensive customization and extension through its API and integrated plugins. It runs on a Docker-based infrastructure, requiring at least 2400MB of RAM and specific versions of Docker and Docker Compose. The setup involves cloning the repository and running an installation script, which can be customized by modifying example configuration files to fit the organization's environment, such as adding Google credentials.

Operationally, Dispatch manages resources, assembles participants, sends notifications, tracks tasks, and assists with post-incident reviews. However, it does not come with pre-loaded data, and users must either load example data or initialize a new database. Securing the installation involves setting up SSL/TLS using proxies like HAProxy or Nginx. Upgrading the database, such as from an older Postgres version, requires careful steps to ensure data integrity and compatibility.

Key considerations include the need for consistent configuration and the potential for performance impacts if not properly scaled. For instance, the database upgrade process is intricate and requires stopping and restarting containers to ensure a smooth transition. Overall, Dispatch streamlines incident response by automating administrative tasks, but it demands careful configuration and maintenance to fully leverage its capabilities.