Both Agile and DevOps are software development methodologies used by development teams to deliver applications and services faster than traditional approaches. To help distinguish each and help you decide which is better suited for your development team below we explore several pros, cons, and use cases.
Breaking Down DevOps vs Agile
DevOps
DevOps actually spawned from Agile and dictates that your development team should be seamlessly combined with your IT operational teams.
Pros:
- Increases data sharing between developers of the software and operators of the software to get more real-time info into the development process, which enables quicker production of a product or object.
- Establishes joint ownership between development and operations.
- Working from operational data offers the opportunity for the development team to make more informed and objective decisions.
- These aspects combined together enable a more rapid development and delivery lifecycle.
Cons:
- More data is both a gift and a curse, as the development team has more info to digest, which can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing.
- There is a tendency to overemphasize speed over quality. Therefore, you need rigor around testing and release management to ensure the speed and collaboration does not introduce defects or lack of attention to detail.
- The team needs to be specifically skilled and culturally aligned to implement this fast-paced and demanding methodology.
Use case:
DevOps is useful in IT-critical areas, such as data center management and eCommerce. For example, analyzing user search data to identify inefficiencies in results to then design a more optimal search solution. Operations provides constant analytics to development, so they are able to quickly iterate on site improvements.
Agile
Agile is similar in that it enables developing better and quicker, but it does not have the same level of integration with the operational side of the business. In addition, it’s more systematic and less organic.
Pros:
- Forces conceptual thinking about design rather than focusing purely on data, which can limit design considerations.
- Can be used in situations when there is not much feedback from the operational side of the business.
Cons:
- Sometimes, development teams can lose sight of the holistic picture of the solution from focusing too much on each small piece.
- Often conflicts with managerial processes that mandate approved designs, total budgets, and time forecasts; these interrupt the rapidity and fluidity of the methodology.
Use case:
Agile is sensible in areas where the user experience is valued as highly as operational performance, such as with software products. These applications are trending toward more frequent, smaller updates that reduce friction in the user experience.
Which methodology is right for your development team? Factum can help you decide.
Factum is a boutique consultancy with a solid track record of helping organizations with software selection and implementation, and defining their processes for optimal results. Whether it’s providing additional development resources or running the entire selection and implementation processes, we’re here to help. Our experienced consultants have worked across numerous industries with Fortune 100 and FTSE 100 companies.
Schedule your free discovery call today to see how we can help you make the right choice.