DevOps and Agile are the two terms most frequently used in software development. These approaches share the same goal of delivering the end product as rapidly and efficiently as feasible. They are often compared, i.e. DevOps vs Agile. Some organizations are already using one of these two popular SDLC methodologies and some are yet in the planning phase because of the mismatch between the two approaches.
The Agile methodology revolutionized the way we produce software. But, only a few years after becoming an industry standard, a crucial oversight emerged: the operations team’s processes and needs for deploying and managing software products were left out. DevOps was born as a result of this collaboration between development and operations teams.
But when DevOps came into the picture, many questions also came with it, like is DevOps an ideal replacement for Agile? Do they work well together? And so on. Both software development approaches have some differences and similarities, and in this article, we will shed some light on the differences between the two.
Summary
Here, we are going to discuss the two popular software development approaches, Agile and DevOps, and their features. Thereafter, we will draw a detailed comparison between the two, i.e., Agile vs DevOps.
What is Agile?
The agile methodology requires continuous iteration of development and testing during the SDLC process. This software development method emphasizes iterative, incremental, and evolutionary development.
Some planning and design are done ahead of time in an agile method, but the agile development approach divides the product into smaller components and then assembles them for the final testing. It can be implemented in a variety of techniques, such as scrum, kanban, XP, and so on.
When compared to products built using the waterfall methodology, changes are continuously incorporated, and a usable version of the product is frequently released. This has a number of advantages, the most important of which is that if the software fails to fulfill the demands or expectations of the consumer, it can be corrected in real-time.
What is DevOps?
The term DevOps evolved from two words, namely development and operations. The DevOps methodology encourages collaboration between development and operations teams so that code may be sent to production more quickly and in a repeatable manner.
The main aim of DevOps is to bridge the gap between developers who write application software and operations professionals who run it in production. In addition, it is necessary to construct and maintain the infrastructure on which it operates.
For businesses and organizations, DevOps has become one of the most valuable business disciplines. The quality and speed of application delivery have greatly increased as a result of DevOps.
DevOps vs Agile
Both Agile and DevOps are extremely popular software methodologies. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages. In this section, we will compare the two popular SDLC models on the basis of many parameters. So, let’s start.
1) Duration
Sprints are used to manage Agile development. As a result, each sprint takes substantially less than a month. In DevOps, the code is pushed to production daily or in a duration of a few hours.
2) Frameworks
Sprints, SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), and scrums are examples of tactical frameworks where Agile may be applied. As the primary intent of DevOps is to prioritize collaboration, there is no widely acknowledged framework for it.
3) Primary Focus
Fast software development is the primary focus of Agile. DevOps aims to provide end-to-end business and fast delivery.
4) Role of Automation
The Agile methodology does not focus on automation while DevOps necessitates the addition of automation. When it comes to software deployment, it operates on the premise of maximizing efficiency.
5) Skills Required
Agile development stresses teaching all team members to have a diverse set of skills that are equivalent. DevOps, on the other hand, splits and spreads the skill sets between the development and operations teams.
6) Source of Feedback
The customer provides feedback in the Agile methodology. This is different from DevOps, where the internal staff is responsible for providing feedback.
7) Team Discussions and Meetings
Scrum is an important feature of the Agile software development methodology. A daily scrum meeting is held. Specs and design papers are used in DevOps discussions. For the deployment process to go smoothly, the operations team must have a thorough understanding of the software release and its hardware and network consequences.
8) Team Management
Any member of the Agile team should be capable of doing whatever is required to keep the project on track. Furthermore, when each team member is capable of performing all tasks, it improves mutual understanding and connection.
Development and operations teams are brought together in DevOps. As a result, communication becomes smooth. This helps to bridge the gap between team members of varying skill sets.
9) Team Size
There are only a few people in the Agile team. The psychology behind it is that the smaller the team, the fewer people to work, and hence, they can move faster. Because DevOps incorporates all of the stakeholders, it has a big team size.
10) The Process
Agile is a continuous iterative method that emphasizes teamwork, customer feedback, short releases, and speedy delivery. On the contrary, the process of bringing development and operations teams together is known as DevOps.
11) Quality of the Developed Software
Agile results in better application suites that meet the requirements, and it can quickly respond to changes made in real-time during the project’s lifecycle. DevOps contributes to improving the quality of software by automating and removing bugs early. To maintain quality standards, developers must adhere to coding and best architectural practices.
DevOps vs Agile: A Detailed Comparison Table
Aspect | Agile | DevOps |
| Application area | It is used for complex projects. | DevOps is defined as the management of engineering processes from start to finish. It is suitable for big projects. |
| Process | It focuses on teamwork, customer feedback, short releases, and speedy delivery. | DevOps brings development and operations teams together. |
| Team size | There are only a few people in an Agile team. | It has a big team size. |
| Frameworks | Agile uses many frameworks including scrums, sprints, and SAFe. | There is no particularly popular framework for DevOps. |
| Objectives | Agile supports constant change. | It emphasizes continuous testing and delivery. |
| Duration | It uses sprints. Each sprint takes less than a month. | The code is pushed to production in a few hours or on a daily basis. |
| Required skills | All team members have all the required skills. | Skills required are distributed among team members. |
| Source of feedback | The customer provides feedback in Agile. | The internal staff provides feedback in DevOps. |
| Primary focus | Agile focuses on faster software development. | DevOps focuses on providing end-to-end business and fast delivery. |
| Principle | Agile supports the shift left principle. | It supports both left and right variations. |
| Resulting software | It results in better application suites that meet the requirements. | DevOps improves software quality by automating and removing bugs early. |
| Automation | Agile does not focus on automation. | It lays emphasis on automation. |
| Popular tools | Some popular Agile tools are Bugzilla, Kanboard, and JIRA. | Puppet, Chef, AWS, Ansible, TeamCity, and OpenStack are popular DevOps tools. |
| Team meetings | A daily scrum meeting is held. | Specs and design papers are used in DevOps discussions. |
| Team management | Any member of the Agile team is capable of doing anything required to keep the project on track. | Communication bridges the gap between the varying skills of team members. |
Conclusion
In this blog, we discussed Agile, DevOps, and the difference between the two popular methodologies of software development. The ultimate aim of Agile and DevOps is the same: to increase the pace and quality of software development, and discussing one without the other makes little sense.
Many teams have found Agile approaches to be quite beneficial, while others have failed to reap the benefits that an Agile approach promises. This could be due to a variety of factors, including a lack of understanding or proper implementation of Agile methods by teams.
It’s also possible that adding a DevOps approach will assist firms struggling with Agile to fill in the gaps and achieve the success they desire. Therefore, making a pick among the two SDLC approaches depends on the project requirements.
Which SDLC methodology do you think is better? Agile or DevOps? Or some other? Jot down your ideas in the dedicated comments section below.
Aditya is a seasoned JavaScript developer with extensive experience in MEAN stack development. He also has solid knowledge of various programming tools and technologies, including .NET and Java. His hobbies include reading comics, playing games, and camping.