What is DevOps?

Sometimes I wonder who coins these terminologies? Anyway, what does DevOps mean? Does it mean Development and Operations simultaneously?

To start with, DevOps is a methodology in a software industry.

Now, before we move on, let me clarify one thing. The Ops here means Operations team, but it does not mean ‘Business Operations’. It means IT Operations. Now that we have a clarity on that aspect, let us quickly look at DevOps.

As we saw above, this is all about software development. So, the next natural question would be what is wrong with the traditional method of software development which was called as SDLC or waterfall method. The traditional methods focus on big releases which are of course riskier due to lot of work involved as naturally the failure would also hit very hard.

In comparison, DevOps approach the development in a different manner. Whenever anyone talks about DevOps, following diagram is referred to.

DevOps works in a much smaller, but frequent releases that helps to manage the risks as well as maintain the speed as if there is something to be done for the software released say last week, the solution can be found quickly. In DevOps, the development and operations team are not siloed one, may be even a merged one where the engineers work across the entire application lifecycle and develop a range of skills not limited to a single function.

There are of course few disadvantages of DevOps as well like managing the existing legacy system, outsourcing bringing in security risks, need of right-minded people ensuring the co-operation etc.

Before I stop, I will raise few questions. What is Continuous Development, Agile Development, Platform Engineering as compared to DevOps? Aren’t they same? Maybe we will discuss other concepts on some other day.

Know your Basics Series – Article no. 41