A Basic Guide to DevOps Processes
Key Technologies and Terminologies in DevOps Processes
Application Release Automation (ARA)
This involves using tools, scripts, or products to achieve consistent and repeatable results in packaging and deploying an update, feature, or application from development to production.
1. Black Box Testing
It is a type of functional testing that involves assessing the internal structure, design, and coding of software. It is different from white box testing in that the internal design of the software is not known to the tester and is, therefore, a "black box."
2. Canary Release
This term is used to describe a process where a software release is gradually introduced to a small subgroup of users, making sure that it is safe and functional before being presented to the general populace.
3. Containers-as-a-Service
CaaS is a cloud service model that offers container-based virtualization with container engines, orchestration, and compute resources
4. Event-Driven Architecture
This is a loosely coupled software architecture framework for application design. Here the capture, communication, processing, and persistence of events are at the core of the solution design.
5. Governance
Set at the board or executive level, IT governance is a set of policies and procedures designed so that IT assets can provide maximum value to the company and its stakeholders.
6. Microservices Architecture
This is a new software design architecture that breaks apart monolithic systems into loosely coupled services. These services can be developed, deployed, and maintained independently. Each microservice is a discrete process that provides a unique business capability.
What are the 6 C's of DevOps Processes?
Best practices in DevOps lead to better productivity, minor bugs, enhanced communication, improved software quality, and many other advantages. The 6C's involved in bringing about this change is
1. Continuous Integration
Continuous integration is about testing and reporting the isolated changes in the system to a larger codebase. Through this process, rapid feedback can be provided, and any defect can be identified and rectified as soon as possible. Continuous integration generally follows a 3-step-rule: build, test, deploy. With this rule, the developer frequently changes the source code in the shared repository.
2. Continuous Testing
This is a process done to obtain immediate feedback on the business risk associated with software releases. Continuous testing can be regarded as a challenging yet essential part of software development. The rating of the software always depends upon the testing as it helps the developer balance quality and speed. Usually, automated tools are used for testing because it is more convenient that continuously testing a full software.
3. Continuous Delivery
Continuous delivery is all about the ability to make changes, such as including new features, configuration management, fixing bugs, and experiments in production. The motive for doing this is to make daily improvements continuously. In case of any error in the production code, it can be quickly fixed at that time. Here, the focus is on developing and deploying the application rapidly, reliably, and repeatedly with minimum overhead.
4. Continuous Deployment
In developing an application, the code is automatically deployed to the production environment to pass through all the test cases. Through continuous versioning, it is ensured that multiple code versions are available in the proper places. Every changed code is put into production, automatically resulting in many deployments in the production environment daily.
5. Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring is employed as a reporting tool so that testers and developers can gain better insights into the availability and performance of their applications. It is used the most before deploying the application to operations. This is a way to obtain feedback essential for lowering the risk of errors and changes further down the lane.
6. Continuous Business Planning
Continuous Business Planning defines the results and capabilities of the application in development. It begins with determining the resources required by the application, and the team designs a specific plan to optimize the use of these resources.
How to Adopt a DevOps Model
By implementing DevOps practices, software releases are accelerated without compromising the application still meets the quality objectives. Since DevOps cannot be just bought or declared, it is necessary to approach it with a delivery model guaranteed to bring results. Here are a few steps in the adoption of a DevOps model that have always been appreciated by experts in the industry
- Start with a DevOps mindset
- Make the most of the metrics
- Understand the unique needs of each company and address them.
- Adopt iteratively
- Focus on quality assurance even in the early stages
- Go for an intelligent approach to automation
Benefits of DevOps
- The speed of delivery of the product is boosted
- Enhanced customer experience
- Improved time to value
- Enables fast flow of planned work into production
- Automated tools are utilized at each level
- More operating environments are stabilized
- Improved communication and collaboration
- Innovation is encouraged
Is DevOps a Process or Methodology?
DevOps is a software development methodology that brings together software development and information technology operations to participate in the entire service lifecycle, from design through the development process to production support.
DevOps is a methodology meant to improve work and represents a change in mindset for IT culture. By building on top of Agile, lean practices, and systems theory, DevOps brings on incremental development and rapid software delivery. In this method, success relies solely on the ability to create a culture of accountability, improved collaboration, empathy, and joint responsibility for business outcomes.
Is DevOps an SDLC?
SDLC is what keeps the software development world in check. With it flagging errors in software creation, errors are discovered early before they are in successive stages and would cost a lot more to fix.
DevOps is relatively new to the SDLC scene. It was derived from the Agile and Lean practices to operation and the general shift in business toward seeing the value of collaboration between development and operations staff at all stages of the SDLC process.
By choosing the proper SDLC methodology, your team can be committed to moving the project forward through every unexpected challenge or setback.
