# Best Practices Evidenced for Software Development Based on DevOps and Scrum: A Literature Review
## 3 Results
### What Factors Are Fundamental to Success in Implementing DevOps? Thirty-seven papers were reviewed to address the following research question: What factors are fundamental to success in implementing DevOps? Tables 4 and 5 summarize the fundamental factors for successful DevOps implementation, as identified in the literature, highlighting the most frequently mentioned ones. Notably, topics such as operational platform construction, infrastructure as code, and infrastructure management are less mentioned in the findings, so they are only mentioned in Table 4. The findings identify five practices presented below in order of frequency in the literature. 1. **Versioning**. Identified in 59% of the papers analyzed, this practice is highlighted as critical for managing changes in code and ensuring traceability throughout the software development process. By enabling teams to track modifications, resolve conflicts, and maintain a history of changes, versioning contributes to the stability and reliability of projects. Key studies, including those by the authors of [37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; 50; 51; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 63; 64; 65], emphasize its foundational role in effective DevOps and Agile practices;
2. **Automation of pipeline operations**. Mentioned in 57% of the papers, this practice is recognized as a cornerstone of DevOps implementation, enabling streamlined and efficient software delivery. Automating pipeline operations, such as code integration,testing, and deployment, reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and accelerates development cycles. Key studies, including [37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; 50; 51; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57; 63; 64; 65], highlight how this automation fosters reliability and scalability in software development processes;
3. **Creation of a collaborative culture**. Cited in 51% of the papers, establishing a collaborative culture is fundamental for fostering effective teamwork and ensuring smooth integration between development and operations teams. This practice encourages open communication, knowledge sharing, and mutual support, enhancing problem-solving and innovation. Studies by the authors of [31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 42; 43; 44; 45; 50; 53; 54; 55; 59; 63; 64; 65; 66; 67] underline the importance of nurturing this culture to improve collaboration and achieve successful outcomes in DevOps environments;
4. **Continuous integration**. Mentioned in 49% of the papers, this practice is recognized as key for ensuring high-quality software's seamless and rapid delivery. By continuously integrating code changes into a shared repository and running automated tests, teams can detect errors early, streamline the development process, and maintain consistent software quality. Studies by the authors of [37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 44; 45; 50; 56; 57; 63; 64; 65; 66; 67] remark on the role of continuous integration in improving the efficiency and reliability of the software development process;
5. **Automated testing**. Mentioned in 49% of the papers, this practice is highlighted as crucial for improving software quality and accelerating development. By automating repetitive testing tasks, teams can quickly identify defects, ensure consistent test coverage, and maintain high-quality standards throughout the development lifecycle. Key studies, including those by the authors of [37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 44; 45; 46; 47; 49; 50; 56; 57; 60; 64; 65; 66; 67], emphasize the role of automated testing in enhancing efficiency, reliability, and scalability within development pipelines. Additionally, it is essential to highlight the importance of understanding the practices and their benefits, as well as the factors of continuous deployment and monitoring.