Bridging the gap between Development and Operations teams, DevOps is thriving in the tech world these days. The term reflects integrating the two disciplines into one continuous process. Making the software development and deployment processes smoother is the core objective of DevOps.
It uses a combination of new management principles and technology tools to achieve this objective. It is essential to pick the right tools to make the automation and integrations needed across functional teams seamless, open, and scalable.
To help you, we have curated a list of top 10 DevOps Tools and Technologies of 2024 that you should know about. Before we dig deeper to explore the tools and technologies, it is beneficial to understand what DevOps Tools and Technologies are and how they contribute to implementing the DevOps methodology.
What are DevOps Tools?
DevOps is a cross-functional practice requiring different tools for various purposes. There cannot be a single tool to implement and configure the complete project lifecycle. Some of these tools are meant for sharing and exchanging information or technical expertise with all the stakeholders involved in the project.
Organizations usually form a DevOps Toolchain to pick the right tools for the development and operations teams to collaborate effectively throughout the software lifecycle.
The toolchain operates as an integral unit from designing to operating system software. Two primary types of DevOps toolchains exist an all-in-one and an open toolchain. An all-in-one toolchain provides a complete solution that usually doesn’t integrate with other third-party
DevOps tools and technologies. On the other hand, the available toolchain can be customized to fit the team’s needs with different tools from various vendors.
The right DevOps lifecycle tools should be used to execute the project with the finest product. We have the best-fitting DevOps tools and technologies for each phase of the DevOps lifecycle.
So, let’s dive in!
10 DevOps Tools to Use in 2024
From deployment to monitoring, there is a tool for each stage of software development that helps the DevOps team automate each step of the process.
There are gist of DevOps Tools and Technologies available now you have to decide which tools to integrate into your product lifecycle.
1. Copado
Copado is an end-to-end DevOps platform for Salesforce. It offers many features, including version control, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), automated testing, deployment management, and governance tools. This DevOps tool suits enterprises with complex Salesforce environments and large development teams. It is a popular choice due to its built-in features to ensure secure deployments and adherence to compliance regulations.
2. Gearset
Gearset is a DevOps tool that provides streamlined Salesforce deployment and CI/CD. Its intuitive interface focuses on user-friendliness, making it ideal for smaller teams or those new to Salesforce DevOps. It has excellent efficiency in deployment with powerful comparison and deployment tools to efficiently move changes between Salesforce environments.
It is generally more cost-effective compared to Copado, especially for smaller teams. While it may not offer the same level of comprehensiveness as Copado, particularly in areas like governance and advanced automation, it is a great choice.
3. Gitlab
A challenge often faced in software development is when the team wishes to remove the complex toolchain and increase software quality and developer efficiency. GitLab helps the development teams in this challenge and accelerates the DevOps processes.
It reduces repetitive lifecycles and increases productivity by allowing users to develop applications with a single UI. This simplifies the administration by employing one centralized instance for all repositories. The best part is that it does not need you to manage authorizations; once permissions are set, everyone in the organization can access every component.
4. Slack
As DevOps was introduced to ease the collaboration between the development and operations teams, a tool for seamless communication needed to be created. Slack is an all-in-one messaging application that is a popular choice among organizations. You can create a workspace for your organization with various channels (group chat).
At the same time, private DMs also have a feature that makes collaboration with stakeholders easier. Slack can replace email, text messaging, and instant chat all in one software. It enables quick questions and decisions, real-time collaboration, gaining attention instantly, and quick voting or polls. It keeps everyone connected and smooths the process of instant onboarding for new team members.
5. Ansible
One of the most potent and versatile DevOps tools in 2024. You can use it to automate your tasks and manage configuration across diverse environments. Ansible is an easy-to-use tool for beginners and advanced users, helping them streamline operations and increase efficiency. It also makes scalability effective and reduces manual errors with security and infrastructure toolkits as its assets.
It also offers flexibility to orchestrate the entire application environment no matter where it’s deployed. Providing great automation to simplify complex tasks and make the developer’s job manageable, Prometheus is a valuable addition to DevOps lifecycle tools.
6. Docker
This one is a DevOps lifecycle tool which can be used in multiple stages. However, it is most useful in the deployment stage. It allows you to not only create or deploy but also run applications in Docker Containers. These containers are simply packages with all the required instructions and dependencies.
Instead of removing each element, you can quickly deploy the whole container from one environment to another. Having a container running the solution as you develop and test the code allows you to validate your work in the same environment that is used for production, which is another benefit.
7. Kubernetes
Kubernetes’s container orchestration feature bridges the gap between IT operations and development. It creates a highly collaborative DevOps environment that facilitates the smooth sharing of software and dependencies across various environments. You can manage hundreds of containers and clusters of hosts using Kubernetes.
It supports hybrid and multi-cloud environments, making it agile, reliable, and cost-effective in application deployment. It is the foundation of cloud-native ecosystems, allowing businesses to utilize their resources better, release software more quickly, and adapt to the changing needs of the digital world.
8. Terraform
Infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform let you create, modify, and version infrastructure securely and effectively. This covers high-level elements like DNS records and SaaS services and low-level elements like compute instances, storage, and networking. Terraform can manage both bespoke internal solutions and current service providers. The significance stems from its capacity to automate, bring consistency, and version control to infrastructure operations.
This reduces human error, streamlines DevOps workflows, and makes it easier for applications to be deployed quickly and reliably in an environment that is becoming more complex and cloud-centric.
Terraform continues to be necessary as enterprises embrace cloud-native technologies to guarantee effective and reliable infrastructure management.
9. Jenkins
In ancient times, developers had to complete code testing, slowing software delivery. The onset of DevOps Automation Tools brought Jenkins to rescue the developers. It allows seamless, ongoing development, testing, and deployment of newly created code, establishing itself as a Continuous Integration tool.
CI is the process where developers can commit changes to source code, and these changes are done simultaneously.
These commits are monitored continuously and increase the efficiency of code builds. Thanks to its plugins, Jenkins can be integrated with any of the DevOps Tools available.
10. Prometheus
Prometheus is a crucial DevOps tool that helps monitor complex software systems. The speciality of this tool is that it offers cross-platform compatibility. It provides organizations with visibility to maintain application performance and ensure software reliability.
It also simplifies data visualisation with the help of Grafana, which is used simultaneously to create graphs and tables.
Prometheus can collect, store, and analyze metrics from various parts of an application’s infrastructure, including containers, microservices, and cloud-based environments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, DevOps tools are like well-oiled machines for development and operations teams. They are essential for the software lifecycle and successful product operations at the end of the lifecycle. They bridge the gap between these traditionally separate entities, fostering collaboration and automation.
This translates to faster deployments, fewer errors, and a higher quality product reaching your customers sooner. By streamlining processes and boosting efficiency, DevOps tools and technologies empower teams to focus on innovation and keep your business ahead of the curve.
