DevOps paradigm -a pedagogical approach to manage and implement IT project

Abstract

DevOps, the widely used term in software industry, integrates the Development and IT Operations activities to frequently deliver, deploy, and release quality software features. DevOps approach emphasizes collaboration among Developments and IT operations teams throughout System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The DevOps process is supported by wide variety of tool chains for various phases of SDLC. There exist many DevOps models. However, in this paper authors use a simple four phase pedagogical models to demonstrate principles of DevOps. In this paper authors attempt to show how DevOps principles can effectively be used to manage and implement business problems in classroom setting. Specifically, DevOps methodology is applied to manage develop and implement a small web application. This pedagogical approach is specially aimed at students who do not have prior experiences and skillsets in applying DevOps methodology and associated toolsets to every stages of SDLC. At the conclusion of the project, students gained valuable insights on how to apply DevOps principles to business problems and to select and use commonly used state of the arts tools to plan, manage, build, test, monitor, deploy tasks at every stages of DevOps. The authors also discuss the limitations and practical issues related to implementing DevOps within classroom settings.