Iris mobile: An open source, mobile interface for incident management

Daniel Wang
9 min readintermediate
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Overview

The article discusses the release of Iris mobile, an open-source mobile interface for incident management developed by LinkedIn. It highlights the integration of Iris with Oncall for managing on-call incidents and the benefits of using a hybrid development approach with the Ionic platform.

What You'll Learn

1

How to use the Iris mobile app for incident management on-the-go

2

Why a hybrid approach using the Ionic platform can benefit mobile app development

3

How to manage user authentication securely in mobile applications

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Basic understanding of incident management tools
  • Familiarity with the Ionic framework(optional)

Key Questions Answered

What is the purpose of the Iris mobile app?
The Iris mobile app serves as a mobile interface for incident management, allowing users to manage on-call incidents and receive alerts while away from their desktops. It integrates with existing tools like Iris and Oncall to streamline incident response.
How does Iris handle user authentication?
Iris utilizes external authentication mechanisms, primarily through single sign-on (SSO) providers, to manage user accounts securely. This approach mitigates security risks associated with exposing internal systems to the internet.
What are the advantages of using a hybrid platform for app development?
The hybrid approach allows for code reusability, enabling the development of both iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. This is particularly beneficial for teams with limited resources and experience in native app development.
How does the Iris mobile app provide dynamic graph content?
The app includes a custom component that fetches graph data from the Iris relay, allowing users to view historical and current graph snapshots related to incidents. This enhances the context provided during incident management.

Technologies & Tools

Frontend
Ionic
Used as the framework for developing the Iris mobile app.
Authentication
SAML
Utilized for secure user authentication via single sign-on.
Templating
Handlebars
Used for rendering templates in the Iris mobile app.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Leverage the Iris mobile app to stay updated on incidents while away from your desk.
This is crucial for maintaining responsiveness and ensuring that incidents are addressed promptly, especially in a fast-paced work environment.
2
Consider adopting a hybrid development approach for your next mobile project to maximize resource efficiency.
Using frameworks like Ionic can significantly reduce development time and costs, especially for teams with limited experience in native app development.
3
Implement secure authentication mechanisms using SSO to protect user data.
This is essential for maintaining security standards while allowing users to access applications remotely without compromising sensitive information.

Common Pitfalls

1
Underestimating the learning curve associated with adopting a new framework like Ionic.
This can lead to delays in project timelines. It's important to allocate time for team members to familiarize themselves with the framework before starting development.

Related Concepts

Incident Management Tools
Mobile App Development Frameworks
Single Sign-on Authentication