DEVOPSdigest

When DevOps entered the realm of software development and delivery, it chopped away many inefficiencies at once. By bringing development and operations parts of the software life cycle closer, DevOps has bridged many gaps that existed before. Its impact is clear and recognizable.

■ Now software gets developed faster.

■ It has a Shift-Left tendency across the spectrum.

■ It's ingrained with the continuous development/continuous integration (CD/CI) mindset.

■ Plus, it's tested and strengthened consistently and iteratively, making it a pleasant experience for the user.

However, there are several other forces that are going to impact this field that we'll see in 2021. Let's get a peek into DevOps' future with an eye on some trends that have already shown up.

1. DevSecOps

While development and operations teams came together with DevOps, there was a massive need to pay attention to software quality and strength. No one wants to miss out on the critical aspect of security just because we are making faster and agile applications. Speed should not come at the cost of new, hidden, or avoidable risks. Hence, DevSecOps is going to get a firm place in the software delivery landscape by bringing security as a mainstream, and continuous, element of the development life cycle.

2. AIOps

IT operations management has always been burdened with checking system logs, making sense of all the application data, documenting observations, swiftly registering alerts, and troubleshooting. But by automating these parts with artificial intelligence, it can be made a lighter and faster function than before.

Data can be logged, documented, communicated, and addressed, but with AI in the driving seat, it can be used more strongly now. AIOps empowers IT operations with speed, smart monitoring, and better application delivery. It can help to pick and resolve production-incidents with a faster response time.

The key enablers here would be real-time analytics, algorithms, automation and orchestration, ML, and visualization. This will be a crucial change in the software realm ahead as enterprises adopt and invest in AI with greater confidence. That's why the AIOps platform market size is slated to touch USD 11.02 billion by 2023, as per MarketsandMarkets' reports.

3. Low-Code

In the rush to create fast applications, many organizations feel the need for something in between off-the-shelf software and legacy applications. They do not have the time to make monolithic applications anymore. They do not want to avoid customization and fine-tuning for their specific needs. Hence, they need something that is plug-and-play and does not necessitate in-depth development expertise. Plus, developer skills are short in supply.

As organizations hit the gas on digital transformation, they need to create more and more applications to deliver digital services. But they face a developer deficit. That's where low-code software may come to their rescue. It is simple to execute and also allows them to customize what they want. While it may not entirely replace development talent, it can offer some relief to enterprises and their teams (like marketing or finance) who want to create applications without in-depth coding knowledge. So these functions will use a lot of low-code as we move ahead. Low-Code will emerge as a noteworthy DevOps trend.

4. No-Code

Low-code should be enough. But then what about going a step ahead? What if some enterprise tasks and services can be performed with applications that have built-in capabilities? This software should be quick to deploy and great to run.

With easy graphical interfaces and configuration tools, No-Code allows even non-programmers to create smooth applications with one's exact needs taken care of. It is a visual environment with easy tools and application components ready to use for non-coders. Simplicity and speed would be the critical drivers of No-Code as a DevOps trend.

In fact, as per a Forrester survey, 44 percent of organizations this year have leaned towards No-Code; but next year, this number could expand to 75 percent. Convenience and agility would be just the two muscles that enterprises need to go more and more digital in the post-pandemic phase. That's where No-Code would shine brighter. The No-Code platform market can touch $21.2 billion by 2022, as per Forrester's estimates.

5. Cloud, Automation and PlatformOps

For any organization that develops and maintains software as part of its business strategy, the ability to build, test and release code updates quickly is vital to optimizing processes and sharpening competitive advantage. Get ready to see new tools, features, and frameworks that relieve the developers, testers, and operations teams from a lot of heavy lifting.

The pandemic propelled a rapid shift toward an economy that is more digital, automated, remote-capable and efficient. The backbone of this shift is Cloud technology. The Cloud fundamentally allows an organization to face the future offensively, vs. defensively. Additionally, organizations will get open about platform approaches to use DevOps at an enterprise-scale. These areas would be automated at the right places and will deliver new efficiencies to the entire organization.

Digital is the new reality

As you can see through these DevOps trends, digital transformation will be a crucial thrust for businesses worldwide. That's where they would be busy creating and managing both internal and external applications to gain competitive edge. Relying on traditional software delivery approaches won't make the cut anymore. Working with the right partners and creating a smart and strategic DevOps environment is what you need to do now.

DevOps aims to build better, faster, and more responsive software. As the world wakes up to an expansive realm of automation, intelligence, microservices, decentralized software development, containers, and modular applications–enterprises need to tap all the new-generation expertise that they can get access to. Get ahead of these DevOps trends and stay a winner.