Why you need to apply DevOps strategies to your release pipelines

It is common practice for software developers to take a ‘big bang’ approach to application development and release. However, this approach of ‘siloed teams of developers, testers and operations creates unneeded friction in release processes, causing inefficiencies and additional costs.

The build-up of fixes and feature improvements over a month, a quarter, or an even longer period requires slow and careful releases to customers. The complexity of these large releases causes inevitable problems for all parties involved and can create problems for the next release even as the current release is underway.

For software companies, the segmented and drawn-out process creates:

• An influx of bugs and required fixes
• An increase in time and cost spent in getting the updated application to market

Both create a system where developers are continually playing catchup to meet demand.

For customers, the periodic approach limits usability from the delay in essential updates and improvements, affecting their view of the application and negatively impacting their experience.

Build better applications with a DevOps strategy

As software adoption continues to accelerate, it is becoming more important for developers to deliver new features and application updates frequently and efficiently. For Software companies with limited resources, DevOps offers a solution to streamline development processes and deliver better-functioning applications faster to your target customers.

It is a culture that aims to bridge different teams and eliminate communication bottlenecks; with continual ‘micro-releases’ and UAT, bugs are found earlier and addressed quicker, and new features get into end-users hands faster.

In addition, operations can influence how software products are built, ensuring security, availability, and performance features are included within development processes instead of afterward.

Fundamental to removing friction from product releases, the DevOps approach changes the scope of application development and the release management process.

In our new eBook, ‘Greasing the SaaS release pipeline: Proven DevOps enablement strategies for Software companies to optimise CI/CD pipelines in Microsoft Azure’, we explain

n in detail the fundamental elements of DevOps and how Software companies can utilise the approach to deploy application development faster.

In summary, the eBook helps you to:

• Identify areas of friction in your current software application delivery process
• Understand the need for a scalable DevOps strategy
• Implements robust CI/CD pipelines to reduce friction in release management
• Review proven best practices for release management so you can tailor your approach
• Evaluate how a managed DevOps strategy can drive growth and enhance your ISV’s competitive advantage