Introduction:
Not only Tier 1 companies like - Amazon, Netflix, HP, and Microsoft, but even small businesses aren't an exception to the use of DevOps.
As more and more companies embrace DevOps practices, there is still confusion about what 'DevOps' really means. Is it a way of working, a mindset, or something else entirely? Different people have different interpretations.
Regardless of how we define DevOps, one thing is clear: achieving success with DevOps is a journey. It's a process of learning, adapting, and improving along the way. It requires organizations to find the right balance between development and operations, collaborate effectively, and continuously strive for better ways of delivering software.
In simpler terms, DevOps is about finding the best way to work together as a team to deliver software more efficiently. It's an ongoing process of growth and improvement.
The ABCs of DevOps may not seem crucial for working professionals, but it holds value for curious learners and enthusiasts. Below are the fundamental questions which arose in my curious mind when I came across the buzzing word - DevOps!
What is DevOps?
Where did it come from?
What problems led to DevOps?
How does DevOps work?
How widely DevOps is used?
Why are people adapting DevOps?
I did some digging, and here is what I got to know some really cool stuff about it!
What is DevOps?
The word "DevOps" was coined in 2009 (Oh my god, I was expecting 2017-18) by Patrick Debois who became one of its Great Gurus. The term was formed by combining "Development" and "Operations". This makes it very understandable what people typically mean when they say "DevOps".
It means that the operation team’s task no longer begins and ends with setting up and supporting the basic infrastructure, and not caring about the products at all (as was the case for a long time). And, of course, the development team’s task no longer ends at pure creation.
Notably, DevOps isn't a technology, standard or process. Many of them refer to it as "culture", "movement" or "methodology".
Where did it come from?
DevOps wasn't created out of thin air; some foundational aspects of it were established long ago. Even before 2020, many organizations were unknowingly practicing DevOps in their day-to-day tasks without conscious awareness of applying this methodology. However, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of DevOps practices skyrocketed, reaching unprecedented levels comparable to the speed of light. The two primary antecedents of DevOps are:
Enterprise systems management (ESM): System administrators with expertise in this played a crucial role in shaping DevOps by incorporating ESM best practices such as configuration management, system monitoring, automated provisioning, and the toolchain approach.
Agile development: it is a flexible and collaborative approach to software development, focusing on iterative progress and adaptability.
What problems led to DevOps?
Developers and Operations don't always see eye to eye on many things, but they both agree that business clients on the other side often pull them in different directions - demanding new features, services, and revenue streams as quickly as possible!
At the same time, they need the system to be free of bugs and interruptions, which puts companies in a situation where they must choose between delivering changes quickly and dealing with an unstable production environment, or maintaining a stable but outdated environment.
Not surprisingly, either choice is unacceptable to clients - can you believe it? : )
To resolve this dilemma, the plan was to integrate both the development and deployment teams into a single, highly automated workflow.
How does DevOps work?
Let's dive into this concept here with real-life examples!
Automation:
Think of a robot doing repetitive tasks for you. Just like a dishwasher automatically cleans your dishes without you handwashing them one by one, automation in DevOps means using tools and scripts to handle repetitive and time-consuming tasks in the software development process.
Scaling:
Imagine you're running a food truck business, and suddenly there's a huge line of customers waiting to buy your delicious tacos. To handle the increased demand, you may need to scale up your operations. In DevOps, scaling means adjusting your infrastructure to handle varying workloads or increased traffic.
Infrastructure:
Think of infrastructure as the foundation of a building. In DevOps, infrastructure refers to the underlying systems and resources needed to run software applications and services.
These three elements work together in DevOps to create a more efficient, scalable, and reliable software development and delivery process.
How widely DevOps is used?
You must be speaking out loud the answer in your mind. If not, scroll back up to the first line after the Introduction : )
To add some stats to that, organizations are leading the charge with 81% reporting they are adopting DevOps somewhere in their firm. Small and medium businesses are also reaping the benefits of DevOps with 70% saying they are applying it. DevOps is succeeding my friend :D
Why are people adapting DevOps?
Imagine DevOps as the best party in town, and your peers are jumping on the guest list like there's no tomorrow! 🎉 They know that DevOps is the ultimate recipe for success in the software world. Just like the perfect duo, developers and operations teams are now grooving together seamlessly. No more awkward moves, no more stepping on each other's toes!
With DevOps, it's like having a superpower – they can release software faster, squash bugs like a pro, and keep the party going with continuous updates!
Conclusion:
"DevOps is an everlasting adventure of continuous improvement"
