Demands
on software developers are changing. It used to be that developers
released new versions of software once a year, or even every few months
if they were really on the ball. Today, however, as-a-service options
make it possible to deliver new versions and updates to customers much
faster via the cloud. The cloud has also greatly enhanced the
development process, which means software developers -
also known as independent software vendors (ISVs) -
are expected to deliver a steady stream of smaller releases in
significantly less time. Doing this requires a systematic re-engineering
of development and operations (DevOps) with all the technical,
procedural, cultural and personal upheavals those changes entail. This
process is well worth the effort, though, according to Logicalis US, an
international IT solutions and managed services provider (
www.us.logicalis.com), which has developed a
DevOps infographic
that identifies the top ways the cloud can facilitate DevOps changes
and accelerate innovation within the software developer's organization.
"Developers and their IT counterparts are polar opposites in their
business lives; one thrives on creativity and out-of-the-box thinking
while the other demands order and precision," says Brian Day, Senior
Director of Cloud Services, Logicalis US. "This makes it tough for the
two to see eye to eye when working to implement a DevOps process that
speeds time to market for the organization. But with the help of a savvy
cloud or SaaS partner, software providers are realizing significant
productivity gains in the people, tools and overall culture of their
organizations - changes that give them a competitive edge in today's
fast-paced software development world."
Eight Ways DevOps Accelerates Innovation
- Speeds Releases:
Software providers once focused all their energy on one big release
whereas, today, the cloud and a proactive, collaborative DevOps
environment make it possible to deliver a constant stream of small
releases.
- Automates Processes:
DevOps in the cloud takes previously manual tasks where building
environments and executing tests were done by hand and automates them
for a more continuous integration process.
- Removes IT Barriers:
Cloud-based solutions allow for faster provisioning of environments
using a templated catalog rather than building testing and production
environments in house by hand.
- Accelerates Testing:
Cloud-based DevOps processes allow developers to design, build and test
smaller pieces of functionality - often simultaneously - rather than
the previous lengthy and time-consuming waterfall method of testing
large systems one stage at a time.
- Encourages Testing First, Not Last:
Rather than evaluating and checking code at the end of the process,
developers can now write automated test cases prior to building the
code.
- Promotes Planning Ahead:
In the past, developers waited until the code was built before
involving operations and thinking about infrastructure needs, something
which can now be done much earlier in the process.
- Helps Manage the Infrastructure:
Where IT once controlled infrastructure components individually, with
software-defined solutions, the infrastructure can now be managed as a
whole via software tools.
- Fosters Better Collaboration: With the right tools in place, development and operations teams can collaborate more easily and deliver better results faster.