The traditional software/application development process is very complex, with the development and operations teams working in siloes. The process is slow and error-prone. DevOps facilitates the modernization of the traditional development process by allowing development and operations to collaborate, from the development phase to the delivery phase of the software development cycle. DevOps is an efficient, time-saving, and relatively error-free process that ensures better software quality and high consumer satisfaction, a win-win for organizations.
The DevOps lifecycle has seven phases to ensure an efficient, automated, fast, and error-free development process. The different phases are as follows:
- Continuous Development
Every project has a vision, and the first phase of the DevOps lifecycle is laying the groundwork for the application based on that vision. Planning is completed based on the project. Once plans are in place, coding initiates as a part of the first phase. Commonly used programming languages for coding are Python, C/C++, JavaScript. Git is the most used Source Code Management (SCM) tool for setting up a centralized management structure for the project.
- Continuous Integration
Coding as a process has to be performed repeatedly in software development to ensure stable and bug-free functionality. In this phase, the developer integrates the updated code with the existing one. It helps to add new features to the software and fix bugs. This process ensures bug removal in the early stages, and the end-user gets to use a stable product. Jenkins is a popular DevOps tool used for updating the code and generating .exe format builds.
- Continuous Testing
As the name suggests, the developed code is tested continuously for bugs and glitches in this phase. One of the most common tools used for continuous and automated testing is Docker containers. Manual testing is a time-consuming and lengthy process. The automatic process allows the developer to test code multiple times in short periods, which is not possible with manual testing. It ensures that the development process is quick and the software is bug-free. Some popular DevOps tools used for automated testing are TestNG, Selenium and Junit.
- Continuous Monitoring
Bugs and glitches can completely ruin the software experience for the end-user. Enterprises need to keep their software and services bug-free and updated to sustain. In this phase, complete monitoring is done majorly by the operations team to check the software application and iron out bugs or any other recurring issues using tools like Sensu, ELK Stack, NewRelic, etc. This process results in a product that is more reliable and efficient for the customer.
- Continuous Feedback
Feedback sharing is one of the biggest reasons which make DevOps so effective. Traditionally developers and the operations have worked in siloes resulting in a complex operating structure. DevOps encourages the two groups to collaborate, share feedback freely and instantly for a quick and efficient development cycle, increasing the overall quality of the code and the subsequent application. Users can also provide feedback which helps the developers push out relevant software updates.
- Continuous Deployment
Consistency is the key with DevOps. Configuration management tools like Chef, Puppet, and Ansible are the most used in this DevOps lifecycle phase for continuously deploying the new code. Containerization helps to establish consistency across the various stages of the development, leaving low chances of failures and helping to scale up and down instances with ease.
- Continuous Operations
This phase is the last in the DevOps lifecycle and probably the easiest. It helps in creating an automated development cycle for the software. Enterprises can deliver products and updates to the market quickly, ensuring high code quality and customer satisfaction.
Consult the Teamitek team for DevOps integration today.
If you are looking for experienced DevOps professionals for your organization, contact us at victor@teamitek.com or visit the contact us section on the TeamITServe website.