The Evolution of Software Architecture and DevOps: The Current Landscape

Software architecture and DevOps are changing fast, and it’s interesting to observe how they are reshaping the way we build, deploy, and secure software. This article is the next in the series about the evolution of software architecture and we will talk about what’s happening in the DevOps world right now. From its growth, key technologies, to methods, we will analyze why integrating security into development is even more important today.

A Little Bit of Statistics

Multiple researches show that around 74% of organizations worldwide have adopted DevOps in one form or another, and 47% of software development teams have focused on DevOps and DevSecOps as the primary approach within their organizations.

Several researchers predict that by 2028, the DevOps market is projected to reach between $25.5 and 29.79 billion, showing a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 19.7 and 23.5%. Such growth is primarily driven by the need for faster time-to-market delivery, improved collaboration, and increased security.

As to the major players in the current DevOps market we, of course, must name MS (Azure), AWS, Google Cloud, IBM, Oracle, GitLab, Atlassian, Docker, and others.

Current Landscape

Let’s now switch to talking about the current landscape of software architecture through some major approaches and technologies used in DevOps.

Firstly, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines have significantly impacted the technology sector. These pipelines, which are powered by tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI, use automated development processes to deliver software more quickly and reliably. When containerization technologies such as Docker and the integration of CI/CD pipelines became available, DevOps teams were able to deliver apps consistently across several environments, transforming our approach to software deployment.

However, we must remember that DevOps is more than just deployment; it is also about effectively managing infrastructures. We see a shift toward Infrastructure as Code (IaC), which automates infrastructure configuration. Tools like Kubernetes, Terraform, and Ansible follow this principle, allowing us to increase infrastructure efficiency and keep consistent performance going.

Additionally, version control systems like Git also gain popularity as it offers, of course, version control, collaboration, and traceability in the codebase, becoming a strong base for development practices. Our experts predict Git to be the future, owing to its distributed nature and great efficiency in managing code changes.

Methodologies in Software Development

The traditional Waterfall approach, with its sequential structure, has long been the norm. However, as technologies evolve, the need for agility and flexibility has become a key point in software development. That’s why Agile/Scrum methodologies that allow breaking projects into smaller, manageable portions, appear. They allow faster delivery and improved collaboration. Such a shift was necessary as businesses want to adapt to market changes as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

So, how do Agile and Scrum align with DevOps principles? First of all, they all focus on improving collaboration and bridging the gap between development and operations.

In Agile, teams work together, with regular stand-up meetings, sprint planning, and reviews, so the entire team is always on track with what other members are working on. Like Agile, DevOps distributes the tasks between development and operations teams, allowing continuous collaboration for faster delivery and ongoing improvement.

Both Agile and DevOps also focus on iteration and continuous delivery. Agile stands for delivering results in sprints, therefore, the team has regular feedback and can make the necessary adjustments. With DevOps, we take a step further by automating the pipeline for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD). This guarantees quicker and more regular releases or changes.

Next, we have automation, a huge advantage of adopting Agile practices and DevOps in the projects. To make the development process consistent and get the desired results, we use automation testing, and, with the help of DevOps we can automate the entire deployment pipeline, from code writing to deployment,

Finally, flexibility and adaptability are central to both methods. Agile stands for being open to modifications and adjusting based on feedback and project requirements that can often change. DevOps also supports this by offering flexibility in managing infrastructure, so teams can scale up or down easily and quickly adapt systems based on changing demands.

Besides technological innovation, we must not overlook the growing threat of cyber-attacks. Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent, targeting our most sensitive data and critical infrastructure. We must integrate security measures into every aspect of our software development lifecycle, from design to deployment.

This is where DevSecOps comes into play. By integrating security practices into our development and operations processes, DevSecOps makes security a priority in the software development lifecycle. It shifts our views on security by promoting risk mitigation and safeguarding our digital assets.

Here are some of the key tools that we like to utilize while building a strong and advanced system for one of our clients:

• DefectDojo, a security scanner, constantly checks both the front-end (user interface) and back-end (server-side logic) for vulnerabilities. It prioritizes issues based on how bad they are and provides recommendations on how to resolve them. This continuous scanning process strengthens the system’s overall security posture.
• Keeping an eye on user activity post-login with Sentry. It provides real-time insights into user behavior, including device details, operating systems used, and performance metrics. With this data, developers identify issues on the user side and resolve them quickly.
• Another issue that arises during the development and has a strong impact on the system is debugging. And it became simpler with the introduction of Jaeger. This tool traces interactions between microservices, visualizing the flow of data across the system. Imagine a complex network of roads – Jaeger acts like a traffic monitoring system, highlighting bottlenecks and inefficiencies. With this visual representation, developers can pinpoint performance issues and optimize their microservices to improve operations.
• Elasticsearch and AWS Logging were used to capture every system move. This combination ensures no data point goes unnoticed. Developers can use Elasticsearch to analyze logs and identify patterns that might indicate potential problems or security threats.

Summary

Modern DevOps is drastically changing how we build and deliver software, focusing on speed, collaboration, and security. As tools and methodologies continue to evolve, the integration of practices like Agile, CI/CD, and DevSecOps allows the development teams to adapt to change and create more reliable and resilient to threats systems. With all these transformations, the future of the tech world looks more secure and ready to meet the challenges ahead.

READ ALSO: The Evolution of Software Architecture and DevOps: Brief Historical Perspective