Contested Development: Finding Pragmatism in Agile DevOps

Agile development and DevOps have become buzzwords in the software development industry. Both methodologies aim to improve efficiency, collaboration, and quality of software development processes. However, their implementation is often contested among professionals and organizations, leading to debates and confusion.

In this article, we will explore the contested development landscape and analyze the importance of finding pragmatism in Agile DevOps. We will delve into the benefits and challenges associated with each approach, and suggest strategies to reconcile their differences for achieving successful software development projects.

The Agile Approach

Agile development is an iterative and collaborative approach that emphasizes adaptability, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. It aims to deliver high-quality software through frequent and incremental releases, focusing on customer feedback and changing requirements.

Contested Development: Finding Pragmatism in Agile & DevOps

by Roy Furr (Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1716 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	79 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

The key principles of Agile development include:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

Agile methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban, provide frameworks to implement these principles effectively. They enable cross-functional teams to self-organize, make decisions collectively, and deliver valuable software incrementally.

The DevOps Approach

DevOps, on the other hand, focuses on improving collaboration between development and operations teams. It seeks to break down silos, enhance communication, and automate processes for faster and more frequent software releases.

The key goals of DevOps include:

• Continuous integration and delivery
• Automated testing and deployment
• Infrastructure as code
• Monitoring and feedback loops

DevOps encourages a culture of ownership, shared responsibility, and continuous learning, ensuring that development and operations teams work together seamlessly throughout the software development lifecycle.

The Contested Development Scenario

The debate between Agile and DevOps often arises due to misinterpretations and misconceptions about these methodologies. Many professionals and organizations adopt a rigid stance, favoring one approach over the other without realizing their complementarity.

Some argue that Agile is focused on incremental software development and customer-centricity, while DevOps is centered around infrastructure automation and operational efficiency. However, both methodologies share several common objectives, such as rapid delivery, collaboration, and adaptability.

Ultimately, contested development arises from a failure to recognize that Agile and DevOps are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary approaches that can be combined to achieve greater software development success.

Finding Pragmatism in Agile DevOps

To resolve the contested development scenario, organizations should adopt a pragmatic approach that combines the strengths of both Agile and DevOps methodologies.

Here are some strategies to find pragmatism in Agile DevOps:

1. Encourage Collaboration: Foster a culture of shared responsibility and collaboration between development and operations teams. Encourage regular communication and cross-functional understanding to bridge the gap between the two disciplines.
2. Implement Automation: Leverage automation tools and technologies for continuous integration, testing, deployment, and monitoring. Automation reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and improves overall efficiency.
3. Adopt Agile Practices: Implement Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, to facilitate iterative development, customer feedback, and frequent releases. Use Agile principles to drive product development and ensure customer satisfaction.
4. Emphasize Continuous Learning: Encourage a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Provide training and resources for teams to enhance their skills in both Agile and DevOps practices. Promote knowledge sharing and empower teams to experiment and innovate.
5. Align Metrics and Objectives: Align metrics and objectives between development and operations teams to ensure mutual success. Define common goals, such as faster time-to-market, higher quality, and enhanced customer satisfaction. Regularly monitor and measure performance against these objectives.

In the contested development landscape, finding pragmatism in Agile DevOps is crucial for organizations seeking efficient and successful software development. Agile and DevOps are not mutually exclusive; rather, they complement each other and can be combined to leverage their respective strengths.

By encouraging collaboration, implementing automation, adopting Agile practices, emphasizing continuous learning, and aligning metrics and objectives, organizations can bridge the gap between Agile and DevOps and create a unified approach that delivers high-quality software, enhances customer satisfaction, and enables faster time-to-market.

It is essential for professionals and organizations to embrace pragmatism and find common ground in Agile DevOps to thrive in the ever-evolving software development landscape.

Contested Development: Finding Pragmatism in Agile & DevOps

by Roy Furr (Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1716 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	79 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Why we wrote this book:

Reason #1: In our 35 combined years doing Agile and DevOps consulting, we saw how they became orphaned and misunderstood. We want to explore how Agile and DevOps practitioners do and think about their work. In fact, we interviewed 11 of them.
Reason #2: We want people to understand the experience of Agile and DevOps, not just their buzzwords. In homage to the Agile Manifesto and its signatories, this eBook brings Agile back to its irreverent, radical roots. At the same time, we’re not blind idealists – we get that businesses adopt Agile practices so they can beat competitors and make more money.
Reason #3. We want to see Agile and DevOps reach their full potential.

What this book is not.
●A how-to guide far too complicated or vague for anyone to use (a.k.a. a “white paper”).
●“Research” designed to generate a self-serving answer versus investigate an issue.
●A sales pitch or its cousin, the case study.

What this book is.
●An exploration of how Agile and DevOps fit into 21st century innovation and business.
●A compendium of stories and dialogues on the nature of Agile and DevOps
●A place for the authors to vent their frustrations with tech culture and its absurd institutions.

How to Read this Book
Grab your beer and prepare to dispute most of what we say. If we all agreed, it wouldn’t be Agile.