Agile Vs DevOps – Common goals but different approach

Agile and DevOps are both considered standard practices for the majority of software developers across the world. Agile was first introduced in the early 2,000s as an alternative way of developing software to enable organisations to launch and build software rapidly and easily adapt to market conditions. However, there was a noticeable gap between the development and operations which drove the creation of DevOps. Both share common traits and serve a common purpose, however, their role differs in the stages of the software lifecycle.

In this article, we will look at Agile Vs DevOps, their similarities, and differences and what they both offer to the software development world and consequently the clients.]

What is Agile?

Agile is a methodology used commonly in software development and is also adopted for project management. It was introduced as an alternative to the waterfall method of developing software. It made software development efficient and quicker, with developers focusing on small rapid releases as opposed to working on the entire project and releasing it at once. There are many frameworks which can be employed when using the agile approach and they include SCRUM and KanBan.

Pros of Agile

There are many pros and cons of the agile methodology and they include:  

• Swift go-to-market
• Ability to adapt to changes, quickly
• Improved team communication and collaboration
• Continuous feedback for a better end product

Cons of Agile

• Less predictable with continuous feedback loops
• Lack of focus on documents as the focus is on reaction to feedback
• May be difficult to implement as it will require a change in mindset

What is DevOps?

DevOps is the concept which bridges the gap between the software development and the operations team in order to deliver software quickly and efficiently with a focus on continuous improvement. DevOps, introduced in 2007 has become a common practice, similar to Agile to empower organisations to be more agile and have the ability to react to market changes. DevOps has much to offer and some limitations to consider, as highlighted below:

Pros of DevOps

• Continuous cycle to improve and optimise product
• Automated processes to improve efficiency
• Speedy development and delivery
• Quicker go to market
• Better customer satisfaction

Cons of DevOps

• Can be challenging to implement as it requires a cultural reset
• Skills shortage of DevOps professionals

Agile Vs DevOps – Similarities and difference

There are some key similarities and differences between Agile and DevOps which include the following:

	Agile	DevOps
Founded	Early 2,000’s	2007
Main goal	Speedy go to market	Speedy go to market
Frameworks	SCRUM, Kanban	CALMS
Highest priority	Continuous delivery	Continuous deployment
Role of automation	Valuable but not a necessity	Necessity

Agile AND DevOps over Agile Vs DevOps

Agile and DevOps both offer invaluable benefits to organisations if implemented well with a core focus on speedy development and continuous improvement. In order for organisations to become truly agile and have the ability to release software on a timely basis to meet customer expectations and adapt and evolve, both agile and DevOps should be adopted.

DevOps powered by Ardent

At Ardent, we have adopted both the agile approach for quick and efficient software development and DevOps to deliver continuous improvement and optimisation. Read about how our clients are succeeding with software built with these core practices:

• Seizing the opportunity in the market with a warehouse automation mobile app
• Continuously meeting evolving expectations with over ten years of software product evolution and development

With the current skill shortage, it can be challenging to find skilled DevOps professionals. Do not fret, we can help. Our highly experienced DevOps engineers are well versed in the DevOps approach and can come on board as part of your team to manage your DevOps processes or can completely manage your DevOps, depending on your unique needs and requirement. Get in touch to find out more or explore our software development services.

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