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Agile vs DevOps: What’s The Difference?

The entire approach of developing software and related products underwent a seamless transformation when agile methodology gained immense popularity in the 2000s. However, it was only a matter of time before major neglect surfaced. 

Within a couple of years of becoming an industry benchmark, it was uncovered that the operations team’s needs and approaches, who installed and maintained software products, were excluded from the transformation. 

This resulted in the introduction of DevOps – an approach that integrated development and operations teams to build coordination between them. This led to confusion about whether DevOps replaced agile or whether they are both the same. Essentially, both agile and DevOps come with differences and similarities. 

To be precise, the key difference between agile and DevOps is that Agile is a development and distribution methodology. In contrast, DevOps continually explains how to deploy software using contemporary tools and automation procedures.

If DevOps seems like a good career path to you, enrolling in a DevOps & Cloud Engineering course will be the right way to begin the journey. But before delving into agile vs DevOps, learn what they are. Read this article difference between agile and DevOps in-depth. 

What Is The Agile Method?

The agile methodology involves the constant implementation and iteration/repetition of development and testing in the SDLC procedure. In contrast to the waterfall model, testing and development operations run simultaneously with the agile method. 

The agile software development methodology prioritizes and focuses on progressive, evolutionary, and adaptive development. It disassembles the software product into manageable components before reassembling them for the last successful testing. 

When it comes to an Agile example, there are numerous approaches to implementing this method, including Scrum, XP, Kanban, etc. The four basic principles of software development using agile methods are:

1. Interaction between individuals and teams over the tools and processes.
2. Fully operational software is preferred over thorough documentation.
3. Collaborative customer input over contract negotiations.
4. Adapting to change as opposed to sticking to a plan.

What Is DevOps?

DevOps is a cutting-edge software development methodology that allows a group of professionals to develop, debug, test, and deploy software products quickly and consistently. 

It implements agile principles and techniques, like enhanced communication between the operations and development teams and elevated automation. Development, testing, and deployment are crucial for both agile and DevOps. 

Nevertheless, when it comes to agile vs DevOps, conventional agile methodologies neglect operations, which is the core component of DevOps. 

Each DevOps example – such as bug removal or network cycling — aims to bridge the gap between operations, who manage the software in production, and developers, who create application software, further to construct and manage the supporting infrastructure.

Agile vs DevOps

Below is a list of parameters based on which anyone can learn every key difference between agile and DevOps. Let’s start. 

• Agile vs DevOps : Skill Set

• Agile vs DevOps : Implementation

• Agile vs DevOps : Duration

• Agile vs DevOps : Target Areas

• Agile vs DevOps : Feedback

• Agile vs DevOps : Importance

• Agile vs DevOps : Quality

• Agile vs DevOps : Tools

To understand the key difference between Agile and DevOps, lets read more about the Pros list of both:

Agile Pros:
The key advantages of the agile methodology include the following: 

• Next Level Product Quality: Testing is a seamless component of project implementation in an agile approach, resulting in a higher-quality end product altogether.
• Higher Customer Satisfaction: Customer retention is higher with the Agile model because the client is constantly a part of the decision-making phase.
• Enhanced Project Predictability: More methods for risk identification, risk prediction, and project planning are available under the Agile methodology.

DevOps Pros:

The key advantages of the DevOps methodology are as follows: 

• Faster Delivery: Increased agility and effectiveness in both planned and unplanned reactions to business needs are two advantages of DevOps for businesses.
• Digital Transformation: Digitalization is affecting commercial operations throughout all sectors, and technology innovation is the force that is pushing this trend. These digital solutions aim to improve employees’ performance and customer engagement.
• Streamlined & Optimized Procedures: Teams find a way to work more quickly by releasing tiny changes more frequently, spotting problems in almost real-time, and reacting by moving forward instead of using the blunder-resistant traditional waterfall technique.

Agile Vs DevOps: Cons List

To understand the key difference between Agile and DevOps, lets read more about the Cons list of both:

Agile Cons:

• Lack of documentation
• Less predictable 
• The final product is released much later.

DevOps Cons: 

• More complexity in projects
• Higher cost 
• Lack of valuable metrics

Agile Vs DevOps: How to Choose the Best One?

The needs and preferences of the organization play a key role in deciding which approach is best suited for their development processes. DevOps and Agile methodology aim to boost quality and increase software development efficiency. Thus, choosing one without comparing it with the other is pointless. 

While some teams have had great success with agile approaches, others have had difficulty achieving the advantages claimed by this strategy. This can happen for various factors, such as teams not appropriately understanding or applying agile techniques. 

It’s also possible that adding a DevOps strategy will help firms that face challenges with agile resolve the issues by filling the gaps and helping them achieve the success and growth they hoped for. So, know what your organization needs and choose accordingly. 

Conclusion

To sum up, the following are the primary difference between Agile and DevOps:

• The Agile Methodology serves as the explanation of Agile, whereas DevOps lacks a well-agreed-upon definition.
• Whereas Agile is an approach to developing software, DevOps describes a workplace culture.
• Continuous delivery is the primary concern for Agile, but continuous deployment is the top objective for DevOps.
• Agile prioritizes “the quantity of work not done,” but DevOps focuses on automating all manual operations.
• DevOps professionals adopt an Agile approach, whereas Agile requires users to be self-organized and driven.

The continual deployment and distribution of software to the client is the shared objective of everyone with an Agile mentality who embraces a DevOps culture. Technology innovations centered on DevOps can indeed be effective when all parties adopt an Agile attitude.