DevOps is one of the most transformative concepts in all of IT—a simple, punchy word that carries immense significance. With just six letters, it conveys its most fundamental purpose: the seamless unification of development and operations. But DevOps is so much more than just a methodology; it’s a philosophy that has reshaped how software is built, delivered, and maintained.
I first encountered DevOps early in my IT career while working at a software development company. Our small team handled both development and operations, which meant we owned our product from code to consumer. That experience was invaluable—I got to explore a wide range of technologies, solve real-world problems, and gain insights I likely wouldn’t have had otherwise.
When I moved on to larger organizations, I realized just how vital that dual perspective had been. I had seen firsthand the challenges faced by both camps, and that understanding helped me continuously seek ways to improve the software lifecycle while keeping the big picture in mind. Development and operations cannot function in isolation—the more effectively they collaborate, the better the end result.
Now, the only thing I love more than DevOps itself is talking about it and showing others just how powerful it can be. That brings us to the purpose of this article: not just to define DevOps, explain its popularity, or highlight its business benefits—but to showcase it in action. Ground-up, soup to nuts, start to finish.
What to Expect
This upcoming series will take the DevOps lifecycle and apply it to a simple software system, guiding you through each phase with practical implementation. Here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead:
- Exploring methodologies like Kanban and Scrum, and using them to manage the development process firsthand.
- Diving into version control strategies and demonstrating best practices for managing code.
- Taking a deep dive into Infrastructure as Code, and codifying the architecture for our application.
- Breaking down the core principles of operating resilient and high-performance applications, and putting them into practice.
And so much more! Talking about DevOps is great, but seeing it come to life is even better. This series will also showcase powerful cloud technologies and platforms that amplify DevOps capabilities, providing a hands-on perspective of how everything fits together.
Where Do We Start?
The plan is to move phase by phase through the DevOps lifecycle, building out the application and supporting systems as we go. In the remainder of this article, I’ll take a high-level look at DevOps as a whole—think of it as an “amuse-bouche” before we dive deeper into specialized topics.
What is DevOps?
At its core, DevOps is a movement—one that unites software development and IT operations to create a more streamlined, efficient, and collaborative approach to building software. It’s not just a methodology; it’s a mindset, a cultural shift that breaks down barriers between teams and drives real innovation.
Traditionally, developers and operations teams worked in separate silos, often leading to bottlenecks, miscommunication, and delays. DevOps eliminates these roadblocks by fostering an environment where teams work together, sharing ownership of the software lifecycle from inception to deployment and beyond.
Speaking of methodologies, DevOps is an extension of Agile. It takes Agile’s principles of iterative development, continuous collaboration, and constant refinement and extends them beyond development into operations. It’s the natural evolution of modern software delivery—turning great ideas into reality faster and more reliably.
The Key Goals of DevOps
DevOps isn’t just about tools or automation—it’s about driving real business value through efficiency, collaboration, and reliability. Let’s explore the core objectives that make DevOps a game-changer.
- Speed and Efficiency – The faster you can deliver value to users, the better. DevOps accelerates development cycles and deployment times, allowing teams to adapt quickly and stay ahead of the curve.
- Collaboration – No more handoffs between isolated teams. DevOps fosters cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that development, operations, and even security teams work toward a shared goal.
- Automation – Manual processes slow things down. Automating testing, deployment, and monitoring enables teams to move fast without sacrificing stability.
- Reliability – Speed means nothing if your application crashes under pressure. DevOps prioritizes robust, high-quality software releases that users can rely on.
- Continuous Improvement – DevOps is a cycle of growth. By collecting feedback, analyzing performance, and iterating, teams refine their processes and create better applications with each release.
The DevOps Lifecycle
The DevOps lifecycle is a continuous loop of planning, building, testing, deploying, and improving—each phase contributing to a seamless workflow. Throughout this series, we’ll explore each of these eight phases in depth:
- Plan – Define objectives, requirements, and strategies.
- Code – Write and manage software in a structured, efficient manner.
- Build – Package code into deployable applications.
- Test – Validate functionality, security, and performance through automated testing.
- Release – Ensure readiness for production deployment.
- Deploy – Deliver applications to users quickly and reliably.
- Operate – Maintain performance, uptime, and scalability.
- Monitor – Track metrics, logs, and feedback to improve continuously.
The magic of DevOps lies in its continuous cycle—not just delivering software but constantly refining how it’s built, deployed, and maintained. Every iteration is an opportunity to learn, optimize, and improve.
And there you have it—your first high-level look at DevOps! In the next articles, we’ll break down each phase, exploring real-world applications and practical implementations of some of the processes and tools. Stay tuned for our deep dive into the planning phase—where great software begins.
Drew Grubb - Runtime Development 