Everyone associates DevOps with the symbol of the horizontal 8. In fact, this symbol is very common in marketing. Georgia doesn’t start much with it. For her, DevOps is a very practical way to make the way we work more effective. Collaboration and communication are crucial in software development, because what I produce today could affect someone else tomorrow. Or benefit from it - that would of course be the more desirable case. DevOps is very comprehensive and holistic, often without a lot of talking but with more: doing!
“DevOps is the (…) desperate call of IT or the information technology industry for: It has to work better than it does right now” - Georgia König
Georgia König grew up in Baden-Württemberg with five siblings and studied computer science in Reutlingen, with a focus on DevOps in her bachelor’s and master’s theses. She has been working in IT practice since 2017, supporting customer projects in various industries and currently works at Novatec Consulting GmbH, where she designs webinars and training courses on Dev(Sec)Ops and Continuous Improvement. In addition, she teaches the subject “Current Challenges of IT Management (DevOps)” at Stuttgart Media University in some summer semesters.
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The true meaning of DevOps beyond the classic CI-CD pipeline and how it is revolutionizing the IT industry by addressing human and economic costs. DevOps can build a bridge between development and operations through practical approaches and the CALMS acronym.
Welcome to a world where DevOps is much more than just a figure eight that many immediately associate with CI-CD pipelines. I was pleased to welcome Georgia König today, who gave us a new perspective on DevOps. The discussion revealed that DevOps is a rallying cry for many in the IT industry - a desperate call for a better way of working. But what exactly does that mean? And why has this call become so urgent?
For two decades, agility has been hailed as the savior for all problems in software development. But has it really delivered on all its promises? Georgia argues that DevOps differs from agile in that it has emerged directly from the experiences and needs of those working in the field. It’s about finding real solutions to real problems and sharing them within the community.
One of the centerpieces of the talk was the CALMS acronym, which stands for Culture, Automation, Lean, Measurement and Sharing. These five pillars form the basis of DevOps and show in a practical way how organizations can improve the way they work. These elements help not only to create more efficient processes, but also to promote a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
What does the application of DevOps look like in practice? Georgia shares her experiences from teaching and consulting and emphasizes the importance of taking concrete steps to implement DevOps principles. From automating simple tasks to critically questioning existing processes, it’s about initiating short and long-term improvements.
Another important topic was the so-called wall of confusion between development and operations. This metaphorical wall stands for misunderstandings and a lack of communication between the teams. By using DevOps principles, this barrier can be broken down so that both sides can work together more effectively.
Georgia has shown that DevOps is much more than a method or a tool; it is a philosophy. A philosophy that aims to reduce both human and economic costs in IT. Through practical approaches and the pursuit of continuous improvement, DevOps can help create a healthier work environment while increasing business success.