DevOps is one of the most promising technology industry trends which accelerates the software development process. It bridges the gaps and loopholes in the software development lifecycle. DevOps is making strides in different functions within an organization. Every now and then, we see the impact of DevOps in cloud infrastructure, agile development, and cloud-native computing. Thus, DevOps is accelerating the software development lifecycle in the business world.
What is DevOps?
DevOps is the integration of development and operation teams, coming together to build and deploy apps using modern tools and methods. The history of software development and deployment is not so intriguing and efficiency-driven. It was the developer’s job to write programs and code and develop software. The system administrators or the operations team then deployed and integrated that code. It was a tedious multi-step process that often resulted in delays and errors.
Then came the era of agile methodologies and cloud computing which forever changed the way developers build and deploy software. Most organizations have reoriented from traditional methods to modern and cloud-native practices. These cloud-native practices and agile methodologies enable faster and better software releases. DevOps is the new way to streamline core functions efficiently and cohesively. The old ways of disconnected development and operations departments only increase frustration and downtimes.
DevOps is a way to enhance collaboration between two core functions; Development and operations. It speeds up the deployment process while enabling the organization to develop high-quality software and apps with accuracy. DevOps Consultants ensure fast delivery without compromising the quality of the app. Apart from boosting collaboration between two core teams, DevOps involves an in-depth understanding of the tools and methodologies crucial to the software development life cycle.
Lifecycle of DevOps
The primary function of the DevOps lifecycle is to ensure superior quality software through agile practices and tools. Let us go through the role of DevOps in different phases of the software development lifecycle.
The DevOps cycle involves the process of continuous integration. This is the process by which the software developers integrate the code they are writing into a central repository. The sole purpose of merging the code into the repository is to identify bugs and errors in the program and provide a quick fix for them. The practice of fixing bugs improves the overall quality of the software while decreasing the time for code validation and the latest updates.
Continuous deployment precedes please continuous delivery. Without human intervention and disruption, the code written in the production stages is directly marketed and offered to the user. Human intervention occurs under one condition only When the deployment process stops as a result of a failed test. Automation plays an integral role in deploying the codes in real time.
The process of continuous development revolves around automation. DevOps depends largely on automation. Therefore, software developers require well-defined DevOps automation tools and methodologies to automate end-to-end software deployment successfully. Automation also helps with software development. The DevOps team uses numerous automation tools to simplify and streamline CI/CD pipelines.
Continuous delivery involves changing codes, testing, and then preparing them for release to the customer. During the continuous delivery phase, continuous integration and code changes are brought to the testing and production platforms. After rigorous testing, the final version of the software is released to the customers.
DevOps Practices
In addition to these phases, the DevOps team uses the following practices to hold up the central values during the software development lifecycle.
This popular software development approach involves building applications in sets of small pieces tied together, also known as microservices. Each piece or component of this set is single-handedly responsible for a specific process. These pieces then communicate with the rest of the components to achieve a common and complex goal.
Using infrastructure as a code is a very common DevOps practice. Software development techniques such as continuous integration and version control provide and handle the entire infrastructure. This practice is similar to using an application code which indirectly implies it can rapidly be deployed through different patterns.
Configuration management is the most important DevOps practice. Code automates configuration management such as operational tasks, hosting, and OS configurations. Configuration management through automation implies that changes and configurations follow a standardized protocol. These configurations are straightforward to handle and less time-consuming.
More Practices
Since the code describes the entire infrastructure, it can also be traced, monitored, validated, verified, and reconfigured automatically. It calls for immediate action from the teams because a non-compliant resource can automatically become compliant. Code allows these automatic reconfigurations. It is one of the ways in which non-compliant resources are monitored and governed. It provides a simple where of monitoring changes in the resources.
Through the practice of monitoring and logging, DevOps teams analyze the situation to evaluate the application and infrastructural performance. It also studies the impact of the application and infrastructure on the end-user. Active and constant monitoring and logging of the issues enables the team to fully understand the impact of changes and updates. Also, it is a more proactive approach to dealing with potential problems and threats in the application.
Communication and uninterrupted collaboration are fundamental to DevOps infrastructure. Through tools and automation, the development and operation teams merge the workflow for enhanced collaboration. Not only does this practice increase communication between two departments but it also enhances information sharing and data monitoring.
Conclusion
DevOps is a powerful tool and strategy that empowers organizations to achieve scalability and agility by implementing a suitable methodology. It ensures quick software delivery and impeccable app quality to the end-user. Organizations cannot perfect the software development process without a robust DevOps Consultation team. It helps to reduce the error margin through rigorous testing and active monitoring. It ensures that the final version of the software is bug-free and has minimal defects. If you want collaboration and communication between cross-functional teams, dev OPS is the right way to go.
