Software Development
DevOps Vs. Agile: Technical Differences and How They Can Be Used Together
Updated 01 Nov 2023
Both DevOps and Agile software development methodologies aim at presenting the end product effectively and efficiently. Although most organizations look forward to employing these practices, the two concepts are often confused. Despite offering the same services, there are subtle differences in how they operate. Teams must understand where to overlap, collaborate and when to choose one over the other. If you ever find yourself torn between choices, you can trust industry experts to provide detailed explanations. Take a look at the differences between DevOps and Agile and how they can be used together.
What is DevOps?
DevOps is a software development style that allows teams to build, test quickly, and release software. It incorporates agile practices like automation and collaboration between teams. The biggest similarity between DevOps vs. Agile is that they both have development, testing, and deployment. However, traditional agile involves less operation, which is integral to DevOps success.
Teams must understand where to overlap, collaborate and when to choose one over the other. If you ever find yourself torn between choices, you can trust industry experts to provide detailed explanations. Take a look at the differences between DevOps and Agile and how they can be used together.
What is Agile?
Agile is an iterative approach to software development and project management focusing on collaboration, customer feedback, and releases. Development teams have used Agile to react and adapt to the new market conditions and customer demands. The difference between Agile and DevOps is early planning and designing in Agile, while development happens in batches through collaborating with stakeholders. Changes are recurrent, and newer product versions are released quicker than those developed using waterfall.
Instead of being a single approach, Agile involves many development methodologies. It includes eXtreme Programming (XP), scrum, and other systems that developers used in earlier years. These systems then arose from practitioners collaborating and combining these approaches to be a single principles unit. This formed the Agile Manifesto includes 12 principles from four core values.
Technical Differences Between DevOps and Agile
Purpose
DevOps’ main concept is managing end-to-end engineering processes. The focus is on continuous testing and delivery. Unlike DevOps, Agile aims at managing complex projects and focuses on constant changes.
Implementation
DevOps focuses on collaboration, so there is no common framework. On the other hand, Agile is implementable within various tactical frameworks like scrum, safe, and sprint.
Team skillset
DevOps divides and shares the skill set between the development and operation teams. The teams are also extensive because stakeholders are included. Meanwhile, Agile development focuses on training all members to have multiple similar and equal skills. Agile teams are also small because the fewer people they have, the faster things get done.
Communication
DevOps communications have many specs and design documents needed for the operation team to understand software releases. The team also has to understand the hardware and network implications for sufficient running of the deployment process. Agile development is more of managed units called “sprints,” and each sprint takes less than a month.
Documentation
DevOps consulting services emphasize process documentation because the software will be sent to the operations team for deployment. Automation neutralizes the impact of inadequate documentation. However, when developing complex software, the knowledge required is hard to transfer. Meanwhile, the Agile approach prioritizes working systems instead of complete documentation. It is necessary when you are flexible and responsive. However, it can be ineffective when trying to hand over things to be deployed by another team.
When do Agile and DevOps Work Together?
DevOps is an evolved version of agile practices or an integral part of agile. It aims at using agile innovations and applying them to operations. Likewise, particular principles of agile can only be harnessed in complete form when used with DevOps practices. For example, there are numerous references to continuous software delivery in agile documents DevOps consulting services.
However, considering the delivery pipelines include operations concerns, continuous delivery is considered a DevOps practice. Improving feedback loops needs improved communication across and between teams. Agile through scrum facilitates communication via numerous ceremonies like daily standups, retrospectives, and planning meetings.
Why is DevOps Better than Agile?
Agile software development follows best practices to create quality software on time. The problem with best practices is having people work in Silos— developers, testers, and ITOps. There is little communication between these teams, meaning they are not aware of what others are doing within the same process.
When software has flaws or fails, it turns into the blame game. In a web app development company with DevOps, the Silos are broken down to work as one team. The DevOps engineer develops, tests, and deploys the code to productions. The engineer also owns the entire process meaning fewer problems.
Considering these insights, it is evident that DevOps and Agile want to bring value to the end-user efficiently from different angles. Agile focuses on improving developers and development cycles, while DevOps brings the operations team on board to facilitate continuous integration and delivery.
Table of content
- – What is DevOps?
- – What is Agile?
- – Technical Differences Between DevOps and Agile
- – When do Agile and DevOps Work Together?
- – Why is DevOps Better than Agile?
Need to hire offshore developers?
Explore More
Mobile Applications