https://dvla.github.io/ Recent content on DVLA Engineering https://dvla.github.io/%3Clink%20or%20path%20of%20image%20for%20opengraph,%20twitter-cards%3E https://dvla.github.io/%3Clink%20or%20path%20of%20image%20for%20opengraph,%20twitter-cards%3E Hugo -- 0.163.1 en Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2026-06-03-ai-engineering-lab-hackathon/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2026-06-03-ai-engineering-lab-hackathon/ TL;DR: At a cross-government hackathon, two DVLA teams used AI agents with strong planning documentation and learned that context and workflow mattered much more than their prompting. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2026-02-01-generating-ai-audio/ Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2026-02-01-generating-ai-audio/ Exploring the use of Generative AI to create accessible and engaging audio content from long-form documents https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-06-09-double-splat-nil/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-06-09-double-splat-nil/ What is a Double Splat Nil and how does it help clamp down on unwanted named arguments https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-05-29-checking-for-atlas-users-before-creating/ Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-05-29-checking-for-atlas-users-before-creating/ Check if a user exists in Atlas and create one if it doesn&#39;t https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-04-24-kaping-gem-project/ Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-04-24-kaping-gem-project/ Idiomatic may to build complex OpenSearch queries in Ruby. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-04-04-experimenting-with-rag-llm/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-04-04-experimenting-with-rag-llm/ Giving an LLM some external context with Ruby. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-12-using-max-by-in-ruby/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-12-using-max-by-in-ruby/ Using max_by to filter out data based on the highest value for a particular field https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-02-postman-paf/ Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2025-02-postman-paf/ Open Source library to apply Royal Mail Rules &amp; Exceptions to PAF (Postcode Address File) addresses when converting to a printable format. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-10-toggle-ruby-tests-through-ci-secrets/ Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-10-toggle-ruby-tests-through-ci-secrets/ How to toggle Ruby scenarios to be run in a CI pipeline, from secrets to Cucumber tags https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-09-ruby-exec-vs-system/ Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-09-ruby-exec-vs-system/ What exactly are exec and system doing and why do they differ? https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-07-ruby-gsub-hashes/ Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-07-ruby-gsub-hashes/ How to make multiple changes to a string with only one gsub call https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-07-non-blocking-ruby-methods/ Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-07-non-blocking-ruby-methods/ Make light work of asynchronous Ruby https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-07-adding-numerous-tags-to-paralleltests-in-cucumber-elegantly/ Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-07-adding-numerous-tags-to-paralleltests-in-cucumber-elegantly/ Creating numerous tags to be included/excluded for ParallelTests in cucumber elegantly https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-03-streamline-application-processing/ Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2024-03-streamline-application-processing/ <h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> <p>Harnessing the power of AWS Step Functions, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) embarks on a transformative journey to streamline its operations. With over 50 million registered drivers and 40 million vehicles, the DVLA navigates various applications, from driving licences to vehicle registrations. This blog unveils the approach adopted by DVLA to transform its application process, ensuring flexibility and customisation for each application type.</p> <h2 id="background">Background</h2> <p>As the custodian of millions of driver and vehicle records, DVLA grapples with the complexity of managing diverse applications. From initial licence acquisition to periodic photo licence renewals and vehicle-related transactions, the spectrum of services demands a cohesive yet adaptable framework.</p> https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-12-logging-blocks/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-12-logging-blocks/ A look at passing blocks into loggers in Ruby. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-12-spring-security-aws-kms/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-12-spring-security-aws-kms/ How to configure spring security to use private key jwt with AWS KMS https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-11-artefacts-and-atlas/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-11-artefacts-and-atlas/ A look at our concept of artefacts in functional test packs and how we manage them using Atlas. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-11-linux-timeout-command/ Sat, 14 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-11-linux-timeout-command/ Ensuring a stale drone step is timed out https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-08-at-exit-hook/ Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-08-at-exit-hook/ Using the at_exit function to run functions when a program exits https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-08-calling-fakermaker-to-generate-numerous-objects/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-08-calling-fakermaker-to-generate-numerous-objects/ Creating numerous FakerMaker objects and storing in an Array, in one call. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-07-taking-full-length-screenshots/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-07-taking-full-length-screenshots/ How to take full-length screenshots of webpages using DevTools https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-06-faker-maker-chaos-update/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-06-faker-maker-chaos-update/ Introducing the Chaos mode update for FakerMaker https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-06-efficient-cucumber-step-regex-matching/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-06-efficient-cucumber-step-regex-matching/ How to utilise powerful regex to write better cucumber step definitions https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-05-faker-maker-initialisation/ Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-05-faker-maker-initialisation/ Initialising FakerMaker objects and doing so with greater efficiency. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-05-logging-with-herodotus/ Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-05-logging-with-herodotus/ A look at the gem Herodotus and the problems we have been using it to solve. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-05-testing-standard-out-in-ruby/ Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-05-testing-standard-out-in-ruby/ How to test output written to STDOUT. https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-03-improving-our-dead-letter-queues/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2023-03-improving-our-dead-letter-queues/ Lessons learnt the hard way about dead letter retention limits and alarm configuration. https://dvla.github.io/open-source/ Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:03:22 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/open-source/ <p>OK so we don&rsquo;t code entirely <a href="https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/service-standard/point-12-make-new-source-code-open">in the open</a> at the DVLA we do like to share useful libraries and utilities when we can. You can find a list of recent open-source projects below.</p> <h2 id="aws">AWS</h2> <h3 id="aws-sqs-utility"><a href="https://github.com/dvla/aws-sqs-utility">aws-sqs-utility</a></h3> <p>A command-line utility that provides the ability to read, write and transform messages on a AWS SQS queue. The following queue actions are available: List, Extract, Load, Delete.</p> <h3 id="sqs-extended-client"><a href="https://github.com/dvla/sqs-extended-client">sqs-extended-client</a></h3> <p>A library for managing large AWS SQS message payloads using S3. In particular it supports message payloads that exceed the 256KB SQS limit. It is largely a Javascript version of the Amazon SQS <a href="https://github.com/awslabs/amazon-sqs-java-extended-client-lib">Extended Client Library for Java</a>, although not an exact copy.</p> https://dvla.github.io/posts/2022-10-working-with-json-schema/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://dvla.github.io/posts/2022-10-working-with-json-schema/ How we use JSON schema to describe data models, produce human friendly documentation and generate code.