A DevOps pipeline uses automation, tools, and advanced processes to enable IT organisations and developer teams to build, test, and deliver high quality software quickly to the end users.
DevOps has changed the way we used to build and deploy software applications. Every stage of the software development life cycle is now made more productive and reliable. In this article, we will learn more about DevOps pipeline, components and its significance in the software development lifecycle.
What is a DevOps Pipeline?
A DevOps pipeline is the combination of tools, automation and best practices in the software development lifecycle to facilitate the development and deployment of software for the stakeholder of the product.
DevOps pipeline includes automation, continuous integration, continuous deployment, testing, monitoring and reporting. The goal of devOps pipelines is to automate the software delivery process. It can help companies deliver new code faster and more reliably. When combined with the right tools and processes this automation is typically referred to as the DevOps pipeline.
Building a devOps pipeline is one of the most important processes for organisations looking to set up devOps in their software development lifecycle. With the right technology, investment and best practices organisations can build a devOps pipeline.
Also, check What is DevOps Lifecycle and Best Practices for DevOps?
Components of DevOps Pipeline
There are six major components of a devOps pipeline which ensures faster, secure, clean and bug free production of software products to the end users. The continuous integration eliminates the wait using automated testing and continuous deployment.
Continuous Delivery
This stage encourages developers to release code to the production environment in an iterative manner. Any change committed in the code is automatically tested for bugs and updated to the repository.
Continuous Deployment
This stage take care of automated updates and changes in code is reflected into the repository without any manual intervention.
Continuous Testing
A series of automated testing and manual testing is implemented at every stage of the software development lifecycle. This help team detect any bugs or issues within the code before it reaches the production environment.
Continuous Operations
This stage ensures the availability of apps and tools to prevent any downtime during the release process. This approach prevents any kind of availability issues and ensures the product is available at all hours.
Continuous Monitoring
With devOps pipeline every stage of the software development life cycle is monitored and assures that every application is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Any security threats, bugs, compliance issues are addressed at the earliest.
Continuous Feedback
The continuous feedback collects user experience with each release and fixture. Any scope of improvement is reported to the concerned team and fixture is completed in the next release.
Also, check, How to become a DevOps Engineer in 2024? Complete Roadmap
Benefits of a Building a DevOps Pipeline
DevOps speed up the software development and deployment process by utilising automated processes, tools and right practices to enable organisations to quickly build, test, and deliver software to end users.
Faster Software Delivery
A devOps pipeline is used to facilitate the build, test and faster delivery of software to end users through a set of automated processes, best practices and devOps tools. The best example is continuous deployment (CI/CD) which automates the build, test, and delivery of software through devOps pipeline to enable faster and efficient software delivery.
High Quality End Product
DevOps pipeline automates the testing, security, feedback and deployment throughout the Software development lifecycle which at the end develop a reliable and high quality software which is tested and optimised repeatedly to produce a consistent product before sending it to the production stage.
Less Manual Efforts
Most of the processes in the DevOps pipeline is automated and handled via automated tools and technologies. This also increases efficiency and reduces the chances of human error due to manual efforts. It also enhances the availability of the most important resources i,e. Human.
Reduced Risk
The risk factor is reduced significantly due to the series of automated testing using the DevOps pipeline throughout the SDLC. Automation is applied to various repetitive tasks to minimise human error.
Faster Resolution Time
The DevOps pipeline leads to faster resolution times whenever an issue is identified within a code via a series of steps such as continuous monitoring and reporting. Due to automated testing and unique testing suits the review times for new code is often shorter which leads to faster resolution of issues based on feedback.
Stages of the DevOps Pipeline
DevOps is a process of continuous improvement where the improvement and maintenance continues even after the delivery of software. DevOps isn’t an end to end process and hence it does not have a specific beginning or end. Let us break down the stages of the devops pipeline.
1. Plan
As the name suggests, this stage is used to plan and schedule the entire project lifecycle based on the code changes. In this stage new features or fixes are introduced and planned.
This stage conducts meetings to discuss the project requirements during the development process. The primary goal is to start the development of a product through collaboration and best practices to find an effective solution for the existing system.
2. Code
After the design and architecture of the product is decided then the process reaches the development stage where developers start writing the code for the product. There are a number of tools to prevent code from any flaws.
3. Build
As the developer completes writing code and approves the product development moves to the next stage where integration issues are identified and the build process is started. The major devOps pipeline starts when the developer commits changes in the code to a shared repository.
The continuous integration (CI) process starts from this stage. In this stage dependencies such as frameworks, libraries, and modules which will be used to run the code properly. The automated testing process helps to detect any issue at an earlier point in the SDLC and notifies it to the developer.
4. Test
After the build stage many test cases are prepared to ensure the software’s quality and reliability. These tests ensure the functionalities, performance, security of the developing software before passing into the production environment.
The DevOps pipeline implements a number of manual and automated testing, such as Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST), User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and more. It finds any potential issues in the code and fix the bugs they may encounter.
5. Release
At this stage of the DevOps pipeline, after the build has been fully tested and is ready to be deployed. The software is fit to be released in the production environment without being affected by any undiscovered bugs or issues.
Some organisations will elect to automatically deploy code when it reaches the stage fit for production environment while others might manually release a new build into production environment.
6. Operate
After deployment, the software development enters the operational phase where it is available to the users in real time. A dedicated operation team takes over the software development process and ensures its availability and everything runs smoothly to provide a better experience to the users.
7. Feedback
This stage consists of creating a feedback loop where the operation team collects the feedback which helps them identify the areas for improvement and assess whether any changes are required. The DevOps lifecycle continues and each stage improves the latest version of the software.
How to Successfully Implement Your Own DevOps Pipeline?
It is important to lay out an effective DevOps strategy to start making your own DevOps pipeline. You must be aware of your goal, what you want to achieve. DevOps is a reform in software development lifecycle which requires a lot of thinking, learning, and communication within the organisation.
Monitor everything from the start, every stage throughout the development process. You must be very well aware of certain metrics such as deployment frequency i,e. How often you deploy over a given period. It is important to be aware of the change in failure rate i,e. How many times change causes a deployment to fail as compared with the number of deployments.
Also, check, 9 Best DevOps Certifications Free or Paid in 2024
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DevOps Pipeline FAQs
Q1. What is the DevOps pipeline?
Ans: A DevOps pipeline is the combination of tools, automation and best practices in the software development lifecycle to facilitate the development and deployment of software for the stakeholder of the product.
Q2. What are the major components of the devOps pipeline?
Ans: The major components of the devOps pipeline are mentioned below.
Continuous Delivery
Continuous Deployment
Continuous Testing
Continuous Operations
Continuous Monitoring
Continuous Feedback
Q3. Is the DevOps pipeline an end to end process?
Ans: No, the devOps pipeline is a continuous improvement process which does not have any beginning or end. It just keeps on running even after the release of software.
Q4. What is the CICD pipeline in devOps?
Ans: The CICD or Continuous integration and Continuous Delivery is an automated workflow which streamlines the development process of software to the end users.
