DevOps training course
Learn DevOps principles, practices and culture so you can help deliver and operate software more effectively. Our DevOps training prepares you for the globally recognised DevOps Institute certification.
Agile
is an umbrella term which encompasses many different software development methods. Some of the most popular are
ScrumAgile software development methods arose in the 1990s as a response to an emerging trend which saw software projects being delivered late, over budget and often with low quality. In many cases, the delivered software did not do what was expected. These days, agile methods have become ubiquitous in the software development industry.
Based upon thewithin the Agile Manifesto
[2]So, agile and DevOps are not two competing methods. It is not a question of either one or the other. Agile refers to multiple specific methods which share common characteristics as defined in
the Agile ManifestoDevOps has, however, drawn part of its inspiration from agile. Another key inspiration for DevOps has been lean
[3]Lean IT
Lean ITBusinesses today are operating within extreme competitive pressures. Businesses which simply ‘stand still’ won’t in fact be in business any more in a few years’ time. The businesses which will flourish and grow in this situation will be those which can adapt quickly to those pressures and deliver products and services which their customers want. Technology plays a crucial role in all of this because it is the enabler for businesses to achieve constant and strategic innovation.
DevOps
recognizes that alternative approaches to software development and IT operations are required, if the accelerated demand for IT services is to be met. Continuing with the way IT has always done things is no longer an option for businesses wanting to succeed.Both businesses and customers now expect IT services to be delivered quickly and reliably. The experience of ‘internet time’ means consumers expect transactions to be performed now, not tomorrow, next week or next year.Moreover, recent developments such as cloud computing and smartphones have prompted a paradigm shift in understanding how IT services are developed and delivered. The simpler, more iterative and incremental approaches of both
, organisations with high IT performance were twice as likely to achieve or exceed their objectives for efficiency, customer satisfaction and service or product quality. The same study also reported growing evidence that DevOps practices help deliver software faster, more reliably, and with fewer errors.
Differing views of DevOpsDue to DevOps still being in its infancy, there are several different perspectives about what DevOps actually means. Look at the graphics below.Because different stakeholders view DevOps from such differing perspectives, is there a common set of values which all DevOps stakeholders can agree upon?
Common DevOps values
At a DevOps Day in California in 2010, the phrase CAMS[7]was invented. CAMS stands for Culture, Automation, Measurement and Sharing. Later, Lean was added to it to become CALMS.CultureThis is all about people and processes. Too much process becomes a burden on productivity. Too little process can hinder communication and collaboration. Getting ‘just the right amount’ is ideal to secure the right culture for automation.
Automation
Enhancing the workflow requires tools and technology to enable automation to take place. The typical things which DevOps aims to automate includes: release management, configuration management, monitoring tools and control tools.LeanLean was added as a key DevOps value because of its focus on the elimination of waste and hence the focus on increasing the useful value which is delivered to the customer.
Measurement
Successful organisations use metrics to help them improve. Without the data from proper measurements it is impossible to know what needs improving. DevOps recommends measuring people, process and technology performance.SharingDevOps aims to create a culture where people share ideas and issues. This helps to improve communication and collaboration, but helps organisations to improve.
To truly adopt DevOps, your organisation must consider all 5 of the CALMS values, not just some of them. It’s only by implementing all the values that organizations can bring DevOps principles and practices to life.
DevOps principlesDevOps aims to create a culture where people share ideas and issues. This helps to improve communication and collaboration, but helps organisations to improve.Any discussion of DevOps requires an understanding of
The Three Ways
The First Way (Flow)
Understand and increase the flow of work (from left to right).
The Second Way (Feedback)
Create short feedback loops that enable continuous improvement (from right to left).
The Third Way (Continuous experimentation and learning)Create a culture that fosters experimentation, taking risks, learning from failure and understanding that repetition and practice is necessary for mastery.
DevOps is not a methodology
If you’re looking at DevOps to provide an all-encompassing framework or methodology, you’ll be mistaken. It isn’t either of these. It does however adopt and leverage multiple frameworks and methodologies such as agile, lean and IT Service Management e.g.