Agile Vs. DevOps Methodologies: Key Differences and Similarities

How is Agile different from DevOps? Do they overlap, have the same principles, or work against each other? Get all your answers from the experts!

Agile and DevOps are software development methodologies that work on similar aims and enjoy the same end product as efficiently as possible. While many organizations are eager to work on these practices, there needs to be more clarity between these two.

So, let’s move forward and tap into the knowledge of the industry experts to define and differentiate between these two practices and identify their advantages and disadvantages. 

What is DevOps?

DevOps is a development methodology that is based on the communication, integration, and collaboration of IT professionals. The main aim of this collaboration is rapid delivery of products.

This further allows for faster production deployment and increases the organizational speed of delivering applications and services. It is also defined as the alignment of development and IT operation.

What is Agile?

The agile methodology is a software development methodology that came into effect in 2001 with the introduction of the Agile Manifesto. Agile employs four values and twelve principles that develop the entire culture. 

Agile methodology encourages the adoption and leadership mindset that helps in the promotion of teamwork, self-organization, and accountability. More importantly, the agile approach focuses more on aligning customer needs and trends. Agile can be implemented in several ways, such as scrum, kanban, scrum, etc.

Agile Vs. DevOps- A detailed comparison

Key Similarities between DevOps and Agile Methodology

The pace at which the technology grows requires enterprises to find innovative approaches to existing pitfalls. So, organizations need to innovate and look for new solutions to meet the growing demands of the modern tech world.

Here are some key similarities between DevOps and Agile methodology;

• Emphasize Testing & Automation

Developers’ main aim in using Agile and DevOps is to achieve scalability and application stability. And to achieve the same, they want a fast and secure environment, which is fulfilled by these two frameworks.

• The inclination toward business productivity

Every business aims for productivity, for which they can trust Agile and DevOps. Both these frameworks share approaches that are inclined towards business.

While implementing the agile methodology, they can easily target a single entity. On the same note, DevOps allows for quicker releases and better delivery without hampering business processes.

• Enables powerful business partnerships

Although DevOps and Agile have several differences, they are essential in building workplace culture. Team members can stay connected to share their problems and issues and solve them together.

• Lean philosophies as the basis of working

DevOps and Agile have the common delivery ground of lean philosophy. These two frameworks can work on their communication process with this philosophy and facilitate smooth interactions within teams.

Critical differences between DevOps and Agile Methodology

Here’s a quick table for you to understand the essential differences between the DevOps and Agile methodology;

Different phases of Agile and DevOps lifecycle 

Final Words

We know several noticeable differences between DevOps and Agile methodologies, but the main aim of increasing the development speed is typical. The most significant parameter of DevOps and Agile practices is that they can co-exist and complement each other to deliver better results.

Since the world is moving fast, the products need to thrive despite the evolving consumer demands. For the same, the organization should adopt the practices and methodologies such as DevOps and Agile to adopt more innovative technologies in coming times.