What is DevOps and Why You Should Consider Using It
Technology has transformed the way human beings work, socialize and gather information. Staying at the forefront of technology is usually one of the main concerns most business professionals have. For most companies, using the latest and most innovative software programs on the market is something they are passionate about.
The developers in charge of building this software have to work extremely hard to ensure their product is delivered on time. Not only does a software development company have to work fast, but they also have to produce programs that are reliable and functional as well.
If you are like most software developers, the main concern you have is speeding up the development process without sacrificing the quality of your programs. While this may seem like a daunting and impossible task, there is definite hope.
Read below to find out more about DevOps and how it can be used to transform the way you develop software.
The Nuts and Bolts of DevOps
If you are like most technology professionals, you have heard the term “DevOps” thrown around a lot. Instead of laboring under the delusion that DevOps is some different methodology that is too complex for you to wrap your mind around, you need to find out more about it.
A Paradigm Shift for the Software Development Process
In essence, DevOps is a set of concepts that are designed to make the software development process more comfortable. For your team to have success with this methodology, they need to rethink their approach to software development and implementation completely. The critical components of a successful DevOps strategy are:
- Focusing on top-notch customer service.
- Increasing efficiency by any means necessary.
- Finding ways to save money.
- The ability to be flexible and adaptable.
With these components in place, you can easily implement DevOps success.
DevOps Success Hinges on Increased Collaboration and Communication
One of the main components of the DevOps methodology is an increase in collaboration and communication. In some software development companies, there is a culture of seclusion and somewhat of me-first mentality.
If you want to have success with DevOps, then you need to get your team on board with a complete cultural shift. Often, breaking bad habits can be difficult. This is why you will need to implement the collaborative aspects of DevOps slowly.
The key to rubbing your team the wrong way during this DevOps rollout is by asking for feedback. Listening to the concerns your team has about this cultural shift can be helpful. Reassuring your team about the results this shift towards DevOps will produce can calm these fears.
The Power of Automation
Continuously testing the software program as it is being developed is also a massive component of a successful DevOps strategy. However, bogging your team down with repetitive and mundane tasks should be phased out altogether. This is why using automated testing and error logging tools is necessary.
If your team is using node.js as a runtime environment for new software or web-based app program, automation can help you manage error logs with ease. Consider reading 4 Node.js Logging libraries which make sophisticated logging simpler with log analysis and log monitoring by Loggly for more information on this process.
How Using DevOps Can Benefit Your Business
Now that you have an idea of what the DevOps methodology is, we can move on to how your company can benefit from using this set of concepts. While change is never easy, the time and effort you put into DevOps implementation will pay off in the end.
Creating Higher Quality Software
The only way a software development company can achieve success is by consistently putting out reliable and functional programs. Without a set of concepts and methodologies to follow throughout the development process, it is easy to lose sight of what the mission of the software in question is. This can lead to the program in question developing problems that may not be caught before it is handed off to consumers.
Avoiding this type of mishap is easy when using the DevOps methodology. Since this methodology pushes continuous testing so much, it will be easy to find problems and address them early on. With the right automated tools, you can test each new batch of code and fix bugs that may exist on time.
Quicker Software Release Times
Being first to market is something most software developers strive for. Building and releasing an innovative new program early will usually offer you a leg up on the competition. Rather than letting software builds drag on far longer than they need to, adopting DevOps methodologies is your best course of action.
Since the overall quality of your code improves when using DevOps, there will be, less time spent fixing bugs and problems. This means that the software development process will be shortened significantly. By getting your software out to consumers first, you can gain the lion’s share of your market in no time at all.
Respond to Changes with Ease
When using traditional software development principles, your company will not have very much flexibility. In today’s market, being able to find out about and adapt to changes in your industry is crucial. The last thing you want to do is release a program that is using technology viewed as old or outdated by consumers.
Did you realize that companies using DevOps methodologies recover from failures almost 100 times faster than companies who do not use these concepts? If certain parts of your program need to be replaced or altered to meet customer or shareholder expectations, you should have no problem handling this when using DevOps.
Using Immutable Infrastructure for Your Software
Trying to configure individual servers instead of working with infrastructure templates is a bad idea. One of the main principles of DevOps is to build and use these infrastructure templates. With tools like Kubernetes, you will be able to avoid inconsistencies during the development process.
Most companies are already using cloud-based tools during the software development process. This technology allows you to update changes in real-time and provide access to essential files to remote workers. Not only will using immutable infrastructure help speed up the software development process, but it will also make the finished product more secure.
Make Consumers Happy With Better Software Usability
Not only will you need to test the code being used for your software program, but you will also need to perform beta-tests on the finished product as well. DevOps methodologies are precise about how vital continuous testing is during the development process. With these tests, you can get some much-needed feedback regarding how easy to use the program is.
If there is a consensus among your staff that the program is hard to navigate, making the appropriate changes to fix this issue is necessary. Supplying consumers with a software program that is cumbersome to use will come back to haunt you. Often, if a user has problems operating a piece of software, they will seek out a competitor to help them out. This is why testing your programs thoroughly is so important.
Reap the Benefits of Cross-Training
Increasing the level of collaboration during the software development process provides several benefits. Not only will this lead to higher productivity levels, but it will also allow you to cross train employees with ease. If employees are collaborating, it is only a matter of time before they will learn valuable information about how different departments are run.
By providing your team with this cross training, you can make them more knowledgeable and productive over time. Understanding the software development process from end to end will also help your team tweak and optimize the programs they work on with ease.
Your Team Will Be Happier
Software development companies that avoid using DevOps principles run the risk of overloading individual team members with too much work. If different members of your staff feel like they are being loaded down and get overwhelmed, it is only a matter of time before they start looking for a new job.
Instead of losing valued team members due to inefficient software development practices, now is the time to start thinking about implement DevOps methodologies. Often, the increased collaboration and communication this methodology is based on can make employees much happier.
If you can spread the work involved in a software development project evenly, you will see a significant increase in morale. In addition, having more hands-on-deck to get these tasks completed will speed up the development process substantially.
VIDEO: DevOps Tutorial for Beginners
Change is a Good Thing
Most business owners dread change because of uncertainty. Companies have used the DevOps methodology all over the world with great success. Rather than looking at change as a bad thing, you need to consider all of the benefits that await you should you adopt DevOps methodologies. Slowing implementing these concepts can help you avoid getting overwhelmed.