DevOps » 5 Big Mistakes Developers Make with DevOps

Statistics show the amount of companies using DevOps rose by 17% in 2018 from 2017. Enterprises of all sizes are embracing the DevOps culture more and more, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. DevOps philosophy and culture combines development and operational teams to help them deliver results at a rapid pace. 

It leverages traditional software development practices with innovative tools designed to achieve continuous integration and deployment. In DevOps, automation plays a big role. While some DevOps developers have been trained in software programming practices and received certifications in DevOps, others start by diving headfirst. DevOps, as it is today, has some of the highest-paying jobs in the USA and its demand is constantly surging as more organizations embrace it.

With new developers looking to get started with the DevOps model, it’s likely that they’ll make 

some mistakes here and there. However, it’s important to note that even the tiniest mistakes can cause project delays. And with that in mind, here are five common mistakes developers make with DevOps:

Complicating Functions

Simplicity is key to many things, and writing too many functions is unconducive to that simplicity. Many new DevOps professionals don’t take the approach of doing less for more and can unintentionally add complexity to the project. Refrain from writing lengthy and complicated functions. Instead, break extensive functions into smaller, more easily digestible functions. They’re easier to read and debug later down the line. However, as you try to break functions to smaller ones, be careful that you don’t oversimplify the process.

Errors in Automation

Transitioning to DevOps means moving from manual processes to automated processes. While DevOps is meant to create an efficient development process, errors unintentionally left in your automation during the early stages of the process will inevitably make things more difficult in the long-haul. 

Such errors are commonly associated with beginners. You should prioritize specific elements of the automation process, like the process frequency and its duration, among others. Often, developers consider speed over quality, and this brings up errors. Developers should ensure they meet the expected standards. Even if speed is a requirement in DevOps tasks, you do not have to replace speed with quality, neither should you compromise either.

Mix-ups

Mixing up continuous deployment with continuous delivery is not an uncommon mistake in DevOps. The terms ‘continuous deployment’ and ‘continuous delivery’ can cause confusion because of their similarities but they are, in fact, different. Continuous delivery is the process of deploying software to production whenever it’s ready, while continuous deployment takes it a step further by deploying every change in your pipeline to production. To avoid mixing up the two, be familiar with the definitions and learn about the distinctions between the two.

Using Too Many Tools

As a developer, you will come across many modern devops tools that assist with DevOps implementation. Before you start your DevOps initiative, select the tools you expect to use and do not use different bunches. This will create your technology stack. Finding the right tools for organizational processes and a team is relatively challenging because if everyone wants to use different tools, collaboration becomes that much more difficult. And with new tools launching all the time, choosing the best ones is easier than it seems. It would be best if you had the right tools to develop your software with agility. If you lack the right tools, you will not see the maximum benefits of your DevOp efforts.

Too Many Branches

As a developer, you should be accustomed to the fact that the software should be deployable so that the team members can check in the trunk daily; this is the case in most agile DevOps and software development practices. If the build breaks accidentally, it should be easily fixed in less than ten minutes, and a new developer welcomed it to the board. Having forks or branches with a shorter life is critical in continuous delivery and helps boost performance. If developers are accustomed to a standard waterfall environment, it can be hard to break them out of this habit of using branches. With the benefits of limiting the use of branches evident, developers should reduce the rate of using them.