Summary : What are the differences between Agile and DevOps? In this post, we’ll discuss their differences and similarities to learn which best suits your business.

Software development is based on a pipeline that has been established between the client and the development team. Each stage varies depending upon the software complexity that the project develops. It includes development, building, testing and deployment. Planning stages sometimes precede the above listed stages, and subsequently, a monitoring stage may also be incorporated.

When it comes to software development methodologies, two popular names come to mind: DevOps and Agile. So, between DevOps vs Agile, which one is better? What’s the relationship between DevOps and Agile?

DevOps vs Agile - Definition

What is DevOps?

Fig. 1. DevOps is about combining development and operation for rapid product development
(Source: Freepik)

DevOps is a software development methodology that aims to bring the development and operations teams together. DevOps is the combination of two words: development and operation. This enables a unified development group to manage every aspect of the application's lifecycle from development and operation to testing and deployment.

DevOps reduces the disconnect between developers, quality assurance engineers, and systems administrators by delivering continuous monitoring and deployment. It helps the development and operations teams in working together for rapid production code deployment in a repeatable and automated manner. It enables organizations to improve the speed of delivery of applications. When combined with a good business plan, it can help companies provide better service and increase their competitiveness.

DevOps feature a set of optimization techniques. Operations Development Engineers are engaged in all areas of the service lifecycle from design development to manufacturing support.

What Is Agile?

Fig. 2. Agile methodology is about integrating customer feedback into software development
(Source: Freepik)

The Agile methodology was originally created by the Agile Manifesto around 2001. The company's values include four principles and a dozen key values to promote an Agile software development culture.

Agile focuses on adoption and leadership that promotes collaboration, autonomy, and responsibility. More importantly, this software development method emphasizes primarily on continuously aligning development to customer requirements.

In implementing Agile software development, the lifecycle is started by dividing the project into manageable stories and requirements. Tasks are organized into sprints which take place within two weeks. Throughout the process, the team is responsible for the development, testing and implementation, and making adjustments along the way. Once the sprint has been completed, it moves on to its next phase until the project is finished. Using such a methodology, the software can be delivered while providing the flexibility for adjustments as the project continues.

Agile and DevOps Services - Head-To-Head Comparison

Fig. 3. Both Agile and DevOps services aim to enhance productivity and produce quality results
(Source: Freepik)

Software development started with the waterfall approach, focusing on the time elapsed in the production process. Eventually, the Agile methodology came, aimed at optimizing development lifecycles. DevOps followed, and this time, it focuses on combining development and operations to form one single group for improved productivity, enhanced communication, and continuous delivery of product requirements.

The DevOps and Agile relationship is similar in the sense that they both aim to deliver the end-product as quickly as possible. Although many businesses have embraced either of these techniques, many people are still confused by them.

How’s the DevOps and Agile relationship when it comes to implementation, duration, skill set, emphasis, communication and feedback? How different are Agile and DevOps services?

Similarities - DevOps vs Agile

Productivity

It is important to have a strong balance between DevOps and Agile since they work together beautifully. The automated continuous integration/ deployment pipeline that comes with the latter can be used by companies who want frequent releases, while Agile provides greater collaboration among smaller teams which enables them to react more quickly when requirements change.

In both cases, the flexibility and communication elements observed in the frameworks help increase productivity through improved efficiency as well as provide better customer service.

Quality

Agile and DevOps services produce better applications in an ideally shorter timeline. Deployment in Agile technology results in products with the client’s desired requirements, thanks to the flexibility in the Agile development process. DevOps, with its automation and early bug removal features, contributes to producing better software that passes coding and architectural standards.

Results

Both Agile and DevOps services focus on rapid, effective and reliable results throughout their development cycle. They also emphasize a short release cycle. As the market becomes increasingly competitive, both Agile and DevOps methodologies prepare organizations in a way that they’ll be able to respond quickly to customer needs.

Differences - DevOps vs Agile

Function

Agile is an iterative development approach that emphasizes collaboration while integrating customer feedback in small, rapid releases. The framework enables companies to quickly react to ever-changing customer needs.

DevOps, on the other hand, is more of a practice to close the gap between the development and operations teams. By combining two siloed teams, quicker software releases can be made.

Duration

Development in Agile is managed in ‘sprints’ which usually last from weeks to months, depending on the complexity of the project. On the other hand, DevOps emphasizes hyper-releases to meet daily deadlines and benchmarks. Ideally, code should be delivered to production every few hours.

Challenges

The greatest challenge of executing Agile and DevOps services are rooted in the very gap that these frameworks aim to eliminate. For instance, in DevOps, two separate departments have to collaborate as if they’re one team. For Agile, organizations have to move from the traditional static and linear environment and welcome a more dynamic system where customer feedback is incorporated in the development lifecycle.

Larger organizations will have a hard time implementing DevOps and Agile because they’re made of teams with ingrained habits that focus on departmental goals.

Target market

DevOps is perfect for quick innovations and continuously improving applications. Companies that aim to be market leaders need to churn out quality products at an accelerated frequency, thus the need for an accurate and swift development structure.
Agile methodology works great in enabling organizations to develop applications that are based on user feedback. Any company that needs to produce applications driven by customer needs will benefit from the fast-paced practice of the methodology.

Can Agile and DevOps Services Be Used Together?

Fig. 4. Agile and DevOps services can be combined instead of being treated as opposing concepts
(Source: Freepik)

DevOps and Agile relationships are intertwined because the former is built on the latter’s practices. DevOps is an extension of Agile but does more by integrating communications to create a fully functioning development and operations team for creating, testing, and deploying software systems.

The combination of these methodologies can improve software development efficiency.

The benefits of DevOps vs Agile can be capitalized when both frameworks are combined. They can help organizations develop technology with significantly greater speed. In addition to this increased efficiency in development processes comes an emphasis on putting customer needs first whatever the specific project may be.

There’s also attention given towards understanding how the software will be used and whether it could potentially become obsolete due its lack of usefulness. All these factors lead toward improving future output.

Improve Efficiency and Productivity With ZenTao

Both Agile and DevOps services will benefit from a project management tool like ZenTao.

ZenTao is one of the most popular open-source scrum tools for collaboration that’s trusted by thousands of global companies. Among its features are Sprint and OPS management that make it the ideal project management tool for DevOps and Agile businesses. It’s designed to support scrum practice but is not limited to Agile use. It offers flexibility both in its functions and pricing to cater to small, medium-sized SEMs, and large enterprises.

Improve the efficiency of your Agile and DevOps services with ZenTao. Start your free trial today or book a demo to get introduced to the platform.