What is DevOps?

1. What is DevOps?

DevOps is a combination of two words: “Development” and “Operations.” Although the term itself is new, the idea behind it is simple. It is a way of thinking and methods that enable developers, who create software and applications, and operators, who actually operate and manage them, to work together more closely to continuously improve and evolve products.

2. Why do we need DevOps?

(Coordination between development and operation)

In old development environments, the typical step was for a developer to create a new feature, and once it was completed, hand it over to an operator to run it. However, this approach can easily create a communication gap between developers and operators, which can lead to errors and problems. In particular, when using the Scrum development method, not only operation but also development continues even after the development project is completed and released to users. DevOps was born as a methodology to eliminate the gap between development and operations and achieve faster and more efficient development and operations.

(Response to expanding functions)

Each system function and data is closely related. When adding a new feature, not only that feature, but all existing features need to be re-examined. Considering this current situation, the more functions a system has, the wider the scope of verification becomes, and the harder it becomes to change the system. Solving this problem requires automating repetitive tasks, verification, and daily system operations as much as possible. This allows you to create an environment where you can focus on adding and improving features.

3.  DevOps methodologies and tools

To realize DevOps, many methods and tools exist to streamline and improve the quality of actual development and operation processes.

① Continuous integration (CI)

A process by which developers frequently integrate code into a central repository. At that time, the code will be tested automatically.

Advantages: Errors and bugs can be detected and fixed early.

② Continuous delivery (CD)

The process of furthering the CI process and automatically deploying code that passes automated tests to production.。

Advantages: Significantly reduces release effort and time and enables rapid release.

③ Containerization

A technology that packages an application and its dependencies as a single “container” and allows it to operate independently of the environment.

Benefits: Ensures application behavior in a consistent environment and eases deployment.

④ Infrastructure coding

Writing and managing infrastructure as code. This facilitates automation and reuse.

Benefits: Infrastructure setup and changes can be made quickly, reliably, and reproducibly.

⑤ Monitoring and feedback

A process for monitoring the operation of applications and infrastructure in real time and responding quickly when problems occur.

Benefits: Early detection and response to problems, maintenance and improvement of service quality.

⑥Automatic test

This is the process by which tests are run automatically whenever code is changed or added. This includes unit tests, integration tests, end-to-end tests, etc. Automated testing is a core part of the DevOps culture and an essential method for continuing to maintain code quality. Automated testing within the continuous integration (CI) chain helps ensure code releases are made faster and more reliably.

Merit

・Maintaining quality : Minimizing bugs and defects in the code.

– Rapid feedback : Developers can immediately recognize problems in their code and can easily fix them.

・Efficient development : Reduces manual testing efforts and increases development speed.

⑦ Automatic error detection

・Definition : The process of detecting abnormalities and errors in systems and applications in real time and notifying related parties.

Merit

– Rapid response : By detecting system abnormalities and errors early, downtime can be minimized.

・Improving quality : By continuously monitoring the health of the system, quality can be maintained and improved.

・Improve user experience : Reduce end-user dissatisfaction and trouble by quickly resolving system issues.

Automatic error detection is key to maintaining system health. In particular, real-time monitoring and error notification are essential for large-scale systems and services that are accessed by many users.

⑧Data consistency check

– Definition : The process of verifying that data is accurate and free of inconsistencies and gaps when it is moved between two or more systems or databases.

Merit

・Improving data reliability :  Preventing data inconsistencies and data loss between systems and maintaining data quality.

・Early detection of problems : By regularly checking the integrity of data, it is possible to detect problems and abnormalities early and respond quickly.

– Stable system operation : Ensuring accurate data movement improves the stability of the entire system.

Data integrity checking is especially important in complex systems and environments with many data sources. Maintaining data integrity within the DevOps methodology ensures the continued quality and stability of the system. Various tools are provided for each of the above techniques. At our company, we strive to realize DevOps by appropriately combining tools and, in some cases, developing our own tools

4.  DevOps Culture – A philosophy that’s more than just a technology

DevOps is about changing not just the technology and tools, but the culture and philosophy of an organization. At its core is the idea that developers and operators work together to deliver efficient, high-quality software.

①Joint goals and responsibilities

· In a DevOps culture, developers and operators are inseparable and work together toward a common vision and goal. · Each team has a responsibility to collectively support the success and sustainability of the entire system.

②Open communication

· We encourage information to be shared openly and promptly, including system issues and bugs, and suggestions for new features. · This allows the necessary information to reach the right people at the right time, allowing for quick responses and improvements.

③Don’t be afraid of failure

· No system or software is perfect. Within a DevOps culture, failures are viewed as learning opportunities. · When a mistake or problem occurs, it is important to investigate the cause and consider measures to prevent it from happening again.

④Continuous learning and improvement

· DevOps recommends constantly adopting the latest technologies and methods to improve skills and knowledge across the organization. · Reviews, feedback, and educational opportunities are provided frequently to foster growth throughout the organization.

⑤Pursue overall optimization

· Aim for sustainable optimization of the entire system rather than short-term results or partial successes. · This increases the efficiency and quality of the organization as a whole. DevOps culture encompasses the philosophy of breaking down organizational walls and working together to achieve the best results. By adopting this culture and mindset, not just tools and technology, you can achieve true DevOps.

5.  Specific benefits of DevOps

· Rapid release: By adopting a DevOps mindset, you can quickly release updates and fixes to your apps and websites. · Enhanced teamwork: Developers and operators have a better understanding of each other’s roles and work together , making the whole process run more smoothly. · Improved quality: Errors and issues can be found earlier and fixed quickly. This also improves the quality of the final product.