DevOps: origins and importance
The term DevOps derives from the fusion of the words ‘Development’ and ‘Operations’. It refers to a new software development methodology which is having a revolutionary impact on the entire IT market.
At last, software companies can rely on new high quality production processes, which are quicker, more efficient and, above all, more secure. This is due to the new approach offered by the DevOps philosophy, which is becoming an increasingly important element in the quest to remain competitive.
What is DevOps and how does it work
The DevOps model involves close collaboration between all the departments involved in the design and release of software. In contrast to other development techniques (such as Big Design), the teams from the various departments work in unison and no longer form separate units.
It is quite common for companies who opt for the DevOps approach to bring their teams together, creating one cohesive unit which is able to work together on a wide range of projects.
Software is no longer designed from beginning to end and then distributed (which is a long slow process, often requiring years of programming), rather it is created piece by piece, involving eachd area of expertise. The development team actively communicates with the production and distribution staff, while building the application in real time.
DevOps offers companies faster, more technically complete solutions, with high levels of versatility. Software developed in this way is characterised by separate blocks of code, which can easily be re-positioned if necessary, without compromising the overall structure of the program.
The advantages of DevOps
When adequately supported by quality infrastructure and resources, DevOps is able to offer companies many notable advantages. By choosing this new methodology, companies can compete more efficiently on the market, while meeting clients’ needs faster, without compromising on quality.
The main advantages of DevOps:
- The code produced is cleaner;
- Maintenance procedures are quicker and require fewer resources;
- The interface is more flexible and easily adapts to interaction with other applications;
- The continuous working cycle of a DevOps team allows any bugs to be identified quickly and code to be refined;
- Software distribution takes less time;
- The company makes considerable savings on development costs.
These are the main areas in which the DevOps approach is able to bring improvements to any company aiming to renew its development methods, but there are also other benefits.
As this methodology is closely based on communication, it enables other departments not directly involved in software creation to be brought in to collaborate with the main team. One well-known variation for example, is DevSecOps, which includes the security department as part of the main team, recognising the fundamental importance of security on the web and beyond.
DevOps in Italy
A recent survey found that DevOps is not yet widespread in Italy. Only 35% of companies have in fact adopted it, while in Europe, those companies who have opted to introduce it have registered the highest percentage increases in terms of revenue.
These findings are encouraging Italian companies to take an interest in DevOps, with many business leaders already trialling this new developmental method as they apply it to various company departments.
In Italy, the main obstacle is the lack of a concrete investment plan to provide the necessary infrastructures and support for IT, which has led to delays compared to the rest of the continent. Nevertheless, 84% of respondents in the survey showed awareness of the importance of being open to these technologies which may be considered a source of new hope for the future of Italian businesses.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
