How DevOps accelerates the software development process?
Tags: webdev, devops
Published: 2022-12-23 10:58:43

Though DevOps has been around for a while now, its adoption has been slow mainly because it was difficult to integrate into existing systems. But with recent advances in technology, this is no longer an obstacle anymore and DevOps is quickly becoming one of the most popular software development methods out there. 

DevOps is a process-oriented software development methodology that aims to speed up the development process by integrating various components into a cohesive system. It has its origins in the IT industry, but it has since been adopted by many other industries as well.

In this article, we will shed some light on all things “DevOps”, from whats and hows. Let’s start by trying to understand what this popular buzzword actually concerns. 

### What is DevOps in software development?

DevOps (or Dev and Ops) is a term that, short for "development and operation," describes the process of integrating developers and operators into a collaborative environment to improve the quality, efficiency, and speed of application development. It's one part automation, one part culture change, but it has had a massive impact on business success in recent years. 

DevOps is often compared to the traditional software development process, which is characterized by its waterfall model. In waterfall, developers first design the entire system upfront and then let it grow slowly as they add features. 

With DevOps, on the other hand, developers take a "continuous delivery" approach in which they continuously deploy new versions of the system to production as soon as they're ready. This way, they can constantly optimize and improve the system without waiting for big chunks of it to be finished.

**DevOps is composed of three core principles:
**
1. **Continuous integration and continuous delivery:** This principle ensures that all the code changes made to the software are integrated into the main development environment and then deployed to a testing environment as soon as possible. This prevents any delays in getting feedback on these changes, which would otherwise slow down the entire development process. 
2. **Automated deployment:** The automated deployment component helps automate the process of deploying new versions of the software to designated environments (like production). This makes sure that all changes are tested before they're released to users, significantly reducing the chances of causing any headaches or problems down the line. 
3. **Rapid response team:** In case there are any issues with either the code or with the applications being deployed, a rapid response team is available to help remediate them as quickly as possible. This prevents any major disruptions from occurring and keeps everyone on track – both developers and end users – during this time-sensitive stage of product development.

These principles make DevOps one of the top development methodologies in 2022 as per [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233917/software-development-methodologies-practiced/).

### How does DevOps work? 

DevOps revolves around five core aspects: 

1. Collaboration (developers working together with operators), 
2. Communication (providing timely feedback so everyone understands what's going on),
3. Configuration management (allowing teams to configure applications properly from start to finish), 
4. Monitoring & logging (keeping track of all activity so problems can be quickly identified),
5. Test automation which helps eliminate manual testing time). 

With these key tenets in mind, you can begin implementing Dev ops practices within your organization today!


## Top benefits of DevOps automation in software development

There are a number of benefits that come with using DevOps methodology in software development. These benefits include the following.

1. **Faster deployment times:** By automating the process, DevOps helps speed up the deployment of new applications. This is because it reduces the amount of time required for software developers to configure and deploy applications.
2. **Improved quality control:** Automated processes help to ensure that applications are developed according to specifications and meet all the requirements necessary for successful delivery. This means that there is less chance of defects being introduced during development, which leads to improved quality and better user experience.
3. **Increased collaboration and communication:** With automated processes in place, teams can work more effectively together by sharing information in a timely manner. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and can make better decisions when it comes to developing software.
4. **Enhanced efficiency:** As systems are managed more effectively, there is an increased likelihood of achieving project goals on time and within budget. In addition, this leads to a reduction in stress levels among team members, as they no longer have to deal with unrealistic deadlines or chaotic work environments.

There’s no doubt that DevOps has all the potential to power your software development process. But when merged with other fields like [data science and AI](https://www.applify.co/blog/ai-and-data-science-for-devops/), it can be boosted to a greater level. 

### Why is speed important when it comes to developing apps?
 

The time it takes for an app or software to go from concept to market can be lengthy - sometimes taking several months or even years. If you're not able to quickly launch your app into production, you risk losing customers during this critical period - which could mean financial losses as well as lost opportunity in terms of future sales. 

Plus, constant delays can also lead to frustration among employees who are waiting for new features or updates. By automating [key stages of the app development process](https://www.applify.com.sg/blog/app-development-process/) (such as testing and deployments), DevOps helps reduce overall Development Time by up to 50 percent or more - freeing up valuable resources that can be put towards making your app better rather than faster!


## How DevOps accelerates the development and deployment of applications?

Why does DevOps matter? That’s a question worth millions. And there are several reasons why DevOps matters. 

For starters, it allows organisations to deploy new applications by speeding up the coordination between developers and testers. This leads to fewer errors and improved customer satisfaction rates. 

In addition, deployments can be done more frequently with less risk due to increased visibility into changes throughout the development life cycle. 

Finally, using better tool sets enables faster debugging when things go wrong - resulting in fewer hours wasted on non-productive workarounds or corrective action plans.

### Ending Note

Hoping that this article gave you a clear initial understanding of DevOps and how it can change your software development process for good. It also maintains consistency between different environments by rapidly assembling, deploying, testing, and iterating on applications. 

By continuously automating various aspects of these processes, DevOps helps improve quality assurance across all phases of the software life cycle. If you’re looking forward to adding DevOps to your business, leverage our developers’ expertise using the [TeamX model](https://www.applify.com.sg/team-x).