DevOps Vs Agile Differences Explained

Introduction

The terms Agile and DevOps are commonly heard in conjunction with each other, but do they have the same meaning?

Can they be DevOps model vs Agile used interchangeably? Is DevOps and Agile same?

The answer is no.

Here we bring to you the major differences between the two methods - DevOps vs Agile.

Before we get into the DevOps vs Agile analysis, let’s get a clear understanding of the differences between Agile and DevOps individually.

Both DevOps and Agile are in demand in the software and IT industry, hence, Agile and DevOps careers differ in terms of job positions and as well as responsibilities.

Agile and DevOps difference comes into play as the method of DevOps merges software development and IT operations, while agile aims to optimize the development life-cycle.

In short, the DevOps and Agile differences cater to development methodologies.

Agile Methodology - DevOps and Agile Differences

The agile approach to software development involves building the software incrementally on an iterative basis. It doesn’t deliver the product all at once and instead follows an iterative approach to finish the project.

This is done through collaboration between cross-functional teams while promoting continuous improvement and learning. Agile aims to achieve effective planning and improvements while ensuring quick responses to changes.

The major difference between Agile and DevOps is the methodology; Agile values interaction between teams and customers. Unlike DevOps, the agile methodology doesn’t follow a strict plan and is open to variations and problematic changes. It attempts to quickly fix the issues and help the system get back on track.

With the DevOps model vs. Agile, below are the most widely adopted agile methodologies that set the Agile and DevOps difference:

Although each of these methodologies has its own significance and benefits, one thing that remains common among them is the goal of delivering software systems in an effective and efficient manner.

The major challenge in Agile is that it demands high rates of productivity from the team members, which is often difficult to achieve as the team is small in number. 

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DevOps Methodology - DevOps and Agile Difference

DevOps methodology can be defined as a culture; it is the software development method adopted by top organizations to bridge the gap between areas of development and operations.

It was introduced to resolve the issues that couldn’t be solved with previous approaches to software development, like the waterfall approach and the Agile approach.

In short, the difference between DevOps and Agile methodology is that DevOps expands the principles of Agile to areas like systems and operations.

The major challenge with the DevOps methodology is that it requires a development team, a testing team, and an operational team to work collaboratively and efficiently.

Maintaining the streamlined process becomes complex in this case due to the involvement of a large number of people.

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DevOps Vs Agile - Major Differences

The difference between DevOps and Agile methodology is that DevOps focuses on promoting the faster deployment of products by enhancing areas like communication and collaboration.

Agile, on the other hand, focuses on enhancing a process iteratively and continuously.

The Agile and DevOps methodologies differ in approach to deployment, methodology, planning, team size, and more. The former and latter approaches of both methodologies work with commonalities and differences.

Likewise, with the DevOps model vs. Agile, the difference between Agile and DevOps comes with multiple parameters.

Below is a detailed analysis of DevOps vs Agile. 

DevOps vs Agile – Purpose:

Agile and DevOps methodologies have different marks with the iteration of development and practice that moves operations roles into development.

In terms of the DevOps and Agile difference factors, DevOps focuses on end-to-end processes and improving collaboration between development and IT operations.

Agile focuses more on the software and less on the documentation. It helps in the management of complex projects.

DevOps vs Agile – Implementation:

With the DevOps model vs Agile, agile has various frameworks that can be used for software development. Some of them are scrum, lean development, and safety.

However, the key difference between Agile and DevOps methodology is that DevOps has no particular framework that can be applied to all the processes; DevOps is more about collaboration.

DevOps vs Agile - Target Areas:

In the DevOps model vs Agile, the DevOps and Agile differences are in their target areas of the software lifecycle process.

For Agile, it is improvement and software development. The target areas of DevOps are the end-to-end process, collaboration, and fast delivery.

DevOps vs Agile - Team Size:

Another difference between Agile and DevOps is the team number for the project, especially with new projects. What sets DevOps and Agile methodologies apart is that in Agile, a smaller group of people are involved, and the process is speedy.

With the DevOps model vs Agile, the team size in DevOps is large compared to Agile and involves many teams working together as stakeholders are involved.

DevOps vs Agile - Duration:

Agile is used in short-term projects that last a few months or even just a week. It involves faster delivery and is managed in ‘sprints’.

Long-term projects are adopted by DevOps as it focuses on reliability and the continuous release of software on a daily basis.

DevOps vs Agile - Goal:

In comparison to the DevOps model vs Agile, the methodology of Agile aims to bridge the gap between development, testing, and customer needs. wherein DevOps aims to bridge the gap between the development, testing, and operations teams.

DevOps vs Agile - Contribution:

Contribution factors project a difference between Agile and DevOps methodologies. Agile contributes to the improvement of quality and tailors the software to customers’ requirements.

The best part of DevOps vs Agile methodology is its flexibility to perform changes at almost any point in the project.

DevOps makes major contributions like automation, bug removal, and better efficiency, and quality.

DevOps vs Agile Training:

The training process is another factor to compare between the DevOps model vs Agile. In the Agile approach, the entire team is trained at equal levels to ensure that each of the team members has a wide range of skill sets. Such training is essential for carrying out the project.

In a DevOps approach, the teams are trained based on their area of functionality, like development and operations.

DevOps vs Agile - Feedback:

The difference between Agile and DevOps approaches works one way. In an Agile approach, the feedback is provided by the customers. And, in the DevOps method, the feedback is given by the internal team.

DevOps vs Agile - Tools:

In comparing the DevOps model vs Agile, the most widely used agile-oriented project management tools are JIRA Agile, Kanboard, Axosoft OnTime Scrum, Telerik TeamPulse, Planbox, and Lean Kit.

Likewise, some of the popular open-source DevOps tools are Consul.io, Jenkins, Chef, Ansible, and AWS.

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Conclusion

Simplifying the whole concept of the difference between Agile and DevOps, we conclude that the difference between Agile and DevOps is this - Agile is more about processes, and DevOps is about technical practices.

While it is believed that adopting the DevOps method in large organizations is a complex process, it is widely adopted by small businesses.

In comparison to the DevOps model vs Agile growth in the market, DevOps has witnessed steady growth and progress over the past years and is still progressing. While agile focuses primarily on developing software, DevOps focuses on developing, testing, and implementing the software as well.

If you are aspiring to build a career or enhance your professional career path in the DevOps or Agile management domains, you must consider getting a certification. With advancements in these fields, there is a huge demand for professionals who are well-versed and skilled.

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