Is DevOps synonymous with Agile? Is it a method? Is that just another way to talk about collaboration? What do DevOps engineers really do? Do we need this title, or is it all just hype?
Who and what is a DevOps Engineer?
A DevOps engineer is an IT professional with a deep understanding of the software development lifecycle. He must understand why the organization has to switch from one model to another, the disadvantages of the previous model, the advantages of the new model, and so on.
A DevOps engineer should also know how to use various automation tools to develop continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) processes.
This in-demand position requires a specific DevOps skill set, which we’ll explore in more detail later.
Planning-tracking.
There are different stages in the CI/CD pipeline. The first phase is the planning phase, which involves writing the algorithm for your product. The next step is the build phase, where the algorithm is converted into a usable product. The product is then tested in a testing phase, during which all defects are found and corrected. The final product moves to the deployment phase, where it is presented to the end user. Once the product is deployed, it needs constant monitoring, which is a new concept introduced recently in the DevOps lifecycle.
DevOps engineers focus more on the monitoring phase than in previous phases. It is essential to continuously monitor the product to detect new bugs, fix them, and return the corrected version to the customer. This is done to ensure customer satisfaction when the product is deployed in the real world. DevOps engineers collaborate with operations and development teams to deliver high-quality products in the shortest possible time.
DevOps Engineer Roles and Responsibilities.
A DevOps engineer works with operations and development teams to build and deploy software systems. As a result, he must collaborate with other software developers, quality assurance professionals, and IT staff.
The main roles and responsibilities of a DevOps engineer include:
- Writing documentation for server-side features.
- Communicate operational requirements and development forecasts to all team members.
- Develop plans and processes to improve and extend current technologies in use.
- Automatically deploy updates to production environments using configuration management software.
- Perform routine application maintenance and troubleshooting to ensure a smooth running production environment.
- Perform vulnerability analysis to identify performance improvements, identify alternatives, and support modifications.
- Build and deploy new development tools and infrastructure.
- Understand stakeholder needs and communicate them to developers.
- Working on ways to automate and improve the development and release processes.
- Test and review code written by others and analyze the results.
- Ensure systems are safe and secure against network security threats.
- Identify technical problems and develop software updates and “patches”.
- Work with other software developers and software engineers to ensure development follows established processes and works as expected.
- Project planning and participation in project management decisions.
According to Oehrlich, ‘the number one challenge DevOps face is finding and engaging qualified DevOps people’. Finding qualified people is a big challenge, while retaining qualified people in DevOps is another challenge’
Frequently Asked Questions About DevOps.
1. Is DevOps just a job title?
DevOps is not limited to a single role. Everyone involved in every stage of the application lifecycle must embrace the DevOps culture. However, in some organizations, there are several people or groups whose sole purpose is to enable automation, define methods, and implement the CI/CD process. Sometimes the official title for these roles is DevOps Engineer or DevOps Specialist.
2. Are DevOps and Agile mutual? DevOps and Agile are modern software development frameworks for production, release or release.
DevOps is also a culture that fosters collaboration between all roles involved in software development and maintenance. Agile is a development methodology designed to stay productive and drive release with the general fact that needs are ever-changing. DevOps and Agile are not mutually exclusive and are often practiced together.
3. How does DevOps help businesses achieve great results?
What DevOps really means is delivering continuous value to customers. The results of DevOps adoption must be measured against business goals. DevOps teams align around these goals and achieve them using short release cycles. These cycles allow for rapid market response and continuous learning through customer feedback.
