DevOps
Definition.
DevOps: A set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the systems development life cycle.
In More Detail
The point of the practice is shortening the distance between writing code and knowing whether it works in production. Long gaps hide problems; short ones surface them while the change is still fresh in your head.
Concretely that means a container so environments match, a CI pipeline that runs tests on every push, and a deploy that is one step rather than a checklist. Setting this up on day one costs a day. Retrofitting it after the first production incident costs considerably more, and always at the worst possible moment.
In Practice
In practice this means Docker containers, CI/CD through GitHub Actions, and deployment pipelines set up from day one of a project — not bolted on after launch once the first production incident happens.
Related Terms
Browse the full software development glossary, or see the frequently asked questions.
If you are working out whether this applies to your own project, the case studies show where it turned up in real builds, services lists what I take on, and pricing gives the starting figures.
Let's Build Something Exceptional Together
Have a project in mind? I'd love to hear about it. I usually reply within 24 hours.
< 24 hrs
Avg. response time
30+
Projects shipped
98%
Client satisfaction