A simple search of the internet for the term "DevOps" reveals many different definitions, writes Tim Boles in a new IOUG SELECT article.
"It is hard to just use one or two sentences to convey the meaning of DevOps,” he notes, explaining that most definitions go into great detail about the methodology and whys, hows, and hoped-for results of DevOps. “However,” says Boles, “they all use words and phrases like 'reduce the time,' 'rapid IT service delivery,' and 'agile.' One of the central themes of DevOps is thus obvious: it is an attempt to develop software applications speedily to a production-ready mode significantly faster than the traditional waterfall software development lifecycle models of the past."
In addition, another key focus of DevOps is the cultural shift it represents within an IT organization: "Instead of the historical business, architecture, development, testing, and operations silo approach, there is an emphasis on collaboration and a closer meshing together of these teams. That’s probably the most significant reason for the moniker DevOps – it’s a mashup of the terms Development and Operations."
This article is the second installment of a six-part series by editors of IOUG SELECT and DBTA on "DevOps and the Modern Enterprise" with three articles on the SELECT website and three articles on the DBTA and Big Data Quarterly websites.
To access "What is DevOps?” written by Boles and edited by Jim Czuprynski, go here.
To access article 1, go here.