Agile and DevOps need Low-Code tools

Blog: AuraQuantic Blog

Agile and DevOps both require low-code
tools to be implemented so that companies can leverage their full potential and
as a result become more competitive.

Digital transformation is not an end but a
means, and therefore there is a starting point, but not an endpoint. It is a
continuous journey, which companies must follow, constantly striving to improve
their processes, eliminating inefficiencies, and maximizing benefits to remain
competitive, bearing in mind that for each process there will always be a newer
and more efficient way of doing things.

THE VALUE OF AGILE METHODOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT

Agile methodology has changed the way we
understand software development. In fact, it is not a methodology, but rather a
philosophy that involves a different way of working and organizing. Although it
is true that it is supported by various methodologies such as SCRUM, XP
(eXtreme Programming), etc.

Before the introduction of Agile, companies relied on linear methodologies (cascading or “waterfall”) that greatly delayed the delivery of the final product. In addition, they didn’t consider input from the end user until a very advanced stage of development, which meant that there was a high risk that the software delivered would not meet the customer’s real needs.

In 2001, seventeen critics of process-based software development improvement models met in Snowbird (Utah), invited by Kent Beck, publisher of Extreme Programming Explained, to discuss software development techniques and processes. They created the term “Agile Methodology” to define methods that were emerging as an alternative to formal methodologies, which they considered too heavy and rigid due to their standardized nature and strong dependence on detailed pre-development planning.

The new model that emerged from this
initiative advocates continuous improvement in which planning, creation,
testing and improvement are carried out with reduced delivery times, putting
the needs of the end user first. The end user now works closely with the
development team.

But aren’t these principles fundamental
values of low-code tools?

Agile and low code share the same general
objective, which is none other than a better way to develop software.

AGILE BETTER WITH LOW-CODE

Low code is a tool that was born under the
umbrella of Agile methodologies with the aim of becoming the tool that puts the
Agile mentality into practice.

The basic idea that prevails in all
low-code tools is that the end user can participate in the process of creating
the application they need.

It is based on the idea that the lack of
communication between the IT department and other departments is a mistake, and
that facilitating the development through visual interfaces will help greatly
in promoting collaboration between all departments.

A low-code tool and an Agile approach allow
you to respond quickly to changes. Applications change and evolve continuously
during the development process, and when in production.

The strategy is to make something work
fast, and then to continue working. There is nothing better than running software
to know what works and what doesn’t. A low-code tool whose development model is
based on process workflows, together with its wizards for rapid development,
accelerates the process and allows us to continue evolving our software
solutions to adapt and respond to new needs.

We implement an agile methodology when we
are facilitating collaboration in every step of the process, and we are
creating solutions that allow us to have control over our activity.

Speed, collaboration and control are the
keys to agile methodology.

A low-code, scalable platform that enables
installation on cloud and facilitates changes is a critical part of this
process.

THE VALUE OF DEVOPS FOR SOFTWARE DELIVERY

So far, we have talked about software
development but what about delivery? Is this still in the hands of the
development department and the operations team?

When we talk about change it is necessary
to reduce the risk associated with the change. DevOps was born as a solution to
this problem and its objective being that the development and operations teams
collaborate to create, test, deploy and monitor applications with speed,
quality and control.

Initially, DevOps focused on the operations
teams providing feedback to the development and quality teams. But today the
concept has changed, and the benefits of feedback are intended to reach the
entire organization.

Comunicación, integraciones y teletrabajo — digital composite of laptop with graphic

The main idea is that new applications
reach the end user in a safe and efficient way. For example, Google or Facebook
use a technique called Feature Flag-Driven Development, which basically
consists of not launching the new functionalities to a 100% of the users at
once. First it is launched with 1% of the users, then 10%, then 30%, etc., with
the possibility of activating and deactivating it in a simple way if something
is not right. It is also possible to launch different variations of the
software focused on different sectors or types of users with this technique.

it
is also possible to launch different variations of the software focused on
different sectors or types of users.

Agile better with DevOps

Just like Agile, DevOps has its best ally
in low-code, and users with technical and non-technical profiles can intervene
in the launch of new features of applications in production using visual
assistants with full independence from the development and operations teams.

Low code and DevOps take the Agile
methodology a step further, since it not only focuses on development, but also
on the business and its objectives, allowing the company to respond faster to
its daily challenges and be more competitive.

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