What is DevOps? A guide to common methods and misconceptions

DevOps is a collaborative culture and set of practices that unite development and operations teams to build, test, and release software more efficiently and reliably, emphasizing the human element in bridging gaps between teams. It is characterized by shared ownership, workflow automation, and rapid feedback, which lead to faster and more stable software delivery. While often confused with tools or methodologies like Agile, DevOps transcends these elements by focusing on collaboration and communication to deliver value. Misconceptions about DevOps include equating it with specific tools or Agile development, and assuming a one-size-fits-all approach. Successful DevOps implementation varies across organizations based on unique goals and constraints, and can involve different team structures, such as dedicated DevOps teams, integrated DevOps engineers within each team, or unified development and operations teams. The core of DevOps lies in adapting practices to fit the team's culture and strengths, enabling organizations to continuously evolve and optimize their processes.