DevOps — “development” and “operations” — means a transformational approach that combines software development and IT operations, contributing to the creation of an atmosphere of teamwork and mutual responsibility.
The DevOps Revolution
In a traditional system, developers write code and then give it to operational services for deployment and maintenance. This often leads to problems such as errors, system instability, and slow response to problems due to the inconsistency of the actions of the two teams.
Now consider the DevOps approach. In this case, the development and operator teams work closely together throughout the software lifecycle. They share responsibilities and collaborate at all stages — from initial design to deployment and ongoing maintenance.
The basic principles of DevOps
- Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). This practice involves frequently merging code modifications into a central repository followed by automated testing and deployment.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC). According to this principle, the infrastructure is considered as a software system that allows developers to manage and provide technology stacks using code.
- Monitoring and logging. This principle involves careful monitoring of application performance and user behavior in order to detect and fix problems in a timely manner.
- Cooperation and communication. DevOps promotes the principle of transparent communication and collaboration between development teams and operational services.
DevOps vs. Traditional IT
When compared with traditional IT practices, DevOps has a number of advantages. DevOps promotes faster feature delivery, a more stable operating environment, improved communication and interaction, and allows you to spend more time on innovation rather than troubleshooting and support. However, the transition to DevOps requires a change in culture, which can be a significant problem for some organizations.
DevOps in the real world
Many organizations working in various industries have switched to DevOps. Technology giants such as Amazon, Netflix and Facebook have successfully implemented DevOps practices to improve the efficiency of software development and operation. DevOps is also gaining momentum in industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail.