We live in a world filled with constant noise. Whether it’s the buzz of modern technology, the demands of daily life, or the stream of notifications from our devices, distractions are everywhere. During the past few days, I took a detour into the world of radars and was able to draw some parallels between concepts applied in detection/filtering and my day-to-day work as a DevOps engineer. And as I gave it more thought, it dawned on me how these same ideas can be applied as life lessons. Learning how to filter out this noise, much like advanced technologies do in aviation and software development, is essential for maintaining clarity and focus. Let’s explore how the radar cross section (RCS) of an F-22 fighter jet shows us the importance of reducing noise, and why it’s critical in both DevOps and flife.

The F-22 is one of the most advanced stealth fighter jets in the world. Its radar cross section (RCS) is engineered to be as small as possible, minimizing its detectability. This is accomplished by using radar-absorbent materials and designing the aircraft’s shape to reflect radar waves away from detection systems. As a result, the F-22 can cut through the noise of radar signals, staying undetected amidst the flurry of other signals. On the other end of the spectrum (pun intended), radar systems employ a variety of noise reduction techniques, such as Doppler filtering or DSP. For both the fighter jet or the radar system, precision is a key element that enables mission success.

In DevOps, monitoring and observability are fundamental practices for maintaining system health. Observability gives us insight into the behavior and performance of our applications, allowing teams to understand and troubleshoot issues in real time. Monitoring tools provide alerts when something goes wrong, offering a lifeline to resolve problems quickly.

But when there are too many alerts, the system can become counterproductive. This leads to alert fatigue, where engineers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of notifications and can miss critical ones. Noise in the form of excessive alerts diminishes the accuracy and effectiveness of the monitoring system, just like radar clutter can obscure the detection of an F-22.

The lesson here is clear: effective monitoring isn’t about generating endless data but focusing on the most relevant information. By filtering out unnecessary noise, DevOps teams can respond more efficiently to real issues.

Just as an F-22 reduces its radar cross section to stay focused on its mission, we too need to filter out the noise in our lives to maintain focus on what truly matters. Life is full of distractions — work pressures, social media, and constant notifications can overwhelm us and drown out our ability to focus on our goals and values.

We can learn to filter this noise by being intentional with our time, practicing mindfulness, and setting clear priorities. Just as an F-22 wouldn’t succeed with a loud radar signature, we can’t navigate life effectively without reducing the distractions that clutter our minds. Sitting with our thoughts, filtering out the unnecessary, and honing in on what is truly important is a skill worth cultivating.

Whether in the skies, our information systems, or in our daily lives, noise is unavoidable. But success depends on our ability to filter out that noise and focus on what truly matters. The key is to stay on target.