BrilliusPresently, everyone associated with software development, testing, and deployment is familiar with the terms- Agile and DevOps. But, as it turns out, it took years to reach the stage where these two can be considered a standard methodology for teams across the world to follow.
Early on, software development and deployment did not exactly follow any strict process. Developers just worked around whatever seemed to click. The result is a lengthy development period surrounded by a complex process. However, with time and increasing competition, the efforts of engineers shifted towards producing quality software while optimizing the time and cost associated.
Then with efforts to align the development, testing, and IT operations team, project management steps were introduced. The waterfall was one of the first methods to be followed by teams across the world. However, after recognizing the drawbacks of the Waterfall method, slowly the transition happened to Agile methodology, and from there to DevOps to match digital transformation needs.
Sounds tricky? Well, it’s not. Even though the Agile and DevOps method shares a lot, there are basic differences in approach and execution.
What is Agile?
Used on the project management aspect, Agile helps team members collaborate on tasks to complete them quickly. Normally, smaller teams function best in Agile methodology. Agile breaks a project into smaller bits and then combines them in the final stage. This may cause issues in the end when everything is put together.
What is DevOps?
Simply put, DevOps brings together the development and operation teams of an organization by streamlining how these two teams perform their tasks. It ensures there is harmony between the teams to get more done in a simple, speedy, and innovation-friendly manner. The ultimate goal is continuous development and delivery to identify bugs and solve them immediately.
Difference Between Agile and DevOps
| Description | Agile | DevOps |
| Automation | Agile doesn’t necessarily introduce automation and digital transformation in organizations. | DevOps brings positive digital transformation and process automation to maximize efficiency during software development, testing, and deployment. |
| Definition | Agile is a repetitive approach mainly focused on building collaboration in the development team. | DevOps brings development and operations teams together ensuring software development and delivery happen in tandem. |
| Documentation | The Agile method prioritizes the working system rather than giving focus on documentation. It can be problematic when things are handed to another team as they don’t have any documentation to follow through. | In DevOps, process documentation is important as it helps streamline communication between the development and operational team. However, in the case of complex-coded software, it can be difficult to do proper documentation. |
| Duration | Agile development is measured in units of “sprints”. A sprint is usually 15 days in organizations. | DevOps goals are measured as per deadlines, which can be hourly, daily, or monthly. |
| Emphasis | Agile is meant to ensure robust software development. Generally, agile teams are not concerned about the implementation once the software is developed and released. | DevOps is an end-to-end approach. It means teams are actively involved from development and delivery to implementation and updating, if necessary. |
| Feedback | Feedback is generally given by the customer. | Feedback comes from all the stakeholders- the internal team, and the customers |
| Focus | It focuses on functional and non-functional readiness. | It focuses more on operational and business readiness. |
| Implementation | The Agile method can be implemented within a range like a sprint, or a framework such as safe and scrum. | The primary goal of DevOps is to focus on collaboration, independent of any time period or common framework. |
| Target Areas | Timely Software Development. | An end-to-end business solution to ensure software development, testing, and delivery. |
| Task | Agile focuses on constant collaboration through change. | DevOps focuses on constant development, testing, and delivery. |
| Team functionality | People with the same skills are part of the agile team and hence, can handle tasks inter-changeably. | In DevOps, each one from the development and operational team acts in tandem through constant communication. |
| Team size | Small Team are best to implement agile methodologies | The relatively larger team is involved when it comes to DevOps implementation |
| Team skill set | Agile requires every team member to have a similar set of skills. | DevOps requires each team member to function as per their abilities and contribute accordingly. |
| Testing Principles | Follows shift-left approach | No set approaches. DevOps can leverage both shifts left and right testing methodology. |
| Tools used | JIRA, Bugzilla, Active Collab, Planbox, Leankit, Kanboard, etc. | Slack, Docker, Jenkins, Puppet, Vagrant, Chef, GitHub, OpenStack, AWS, etc. |
Which is the best approach for you?
Well, the short answer is, “it depends”.
The two approaches can be used individually, as well as clubbed together to increase overall efficiency. Agile may create silos that can be bridged through the DevOps approach. Similarly, DevOps can be tricky when it comes to documentation, but by distributing major chunks, borrowed from Agile methodology, it can easily be achieved.