How to Use DevOps as a Solo Software Developer

The term “DevOps” seems to have taken the software development and IT industries by storm. Large organizations like Amazon, Google, Target, and Netflix have already adopted the DevOps framework to encourage collaboration and integration between development teams and their IT operations team counterparts. The truth is that DevOps is getting a lot of attention as organizations of all sizes increasingly adopt it to scale up their operations. But what about its application or adoption in a single-person team?

The fact that you’re working solo doesn’t mean you can’t invest in DevOps infrastructure. Implementing DevOps practices such as continuous integration, trunk-based development, continuous deployment, and continuous improvement can help you scale efficiently. Plus, you can reliably deliver your application faster while ensuring a positive user experience with features like platform engineering, for more on this click here.

So, if you’re a solo software developer looking to innovate faster, deliver solutions at a more rapid pace, and adapt to changing market demands better, a DevOps model will be beneficial. Here are six ways to use DevOps practices on your solo projects.

Develop a Version Control and Code Flow Strategy

Version control can be defined as the practice or process of managing and tracking all the changes and modifications that have been done to the software code. The importance of a version control system when it comes to recording, organizing, and tracking changes to a set of files can’t be overstated, therefore. Version control systems such as Git, Bitbucket, PerForce, and Beanstalk are useful for DevOps teams as they help to streamline the development process, thereby increasing successful deployments.

It’s, however, not enough to just have a version control system when working as a solo developer. You need to develop a code flow branch strategy so it’s easy to isolate and organize your work. A code flow strategy simplifies your workflow, allowing for continuous integration, efficient testing, and continuous delivery of valuable applications.

Focus on Building Efficient Pipelines

What is devops pipeline you ask? You already know that the DevOps cultural philosophy was developed to help bridge the gap between the development teams and their IT service and operations team counterparts. And to establish a successful DevOps framework, you have to implement the right DevOps process and pipeline tools.

Continuous delivery (CD) and continuous integration (DC) have been recognized as the foundation for a successful DevOps culture. It’s, therefore, crucial that you focus on building an efficient CI/CD pipeline so you can streamline and automate your build, software integration, and testing process. As a result, you’ll have greater control over the software development process, respond more quickly to shifting market demands, and deliver high-quality applications at a faster pace.

Invest in a More Detailed Workflow Tracking Process

As a solo software developer, it can be challenging to remember all the different tasks you have on your to-do list. If you were working in a large team, your supervisor would have been present to remind you. But this isn’t the case now.

You need to develop a repeatable process and unique culture that will make it easier for you to work solo at scale. Invest in a detailed workflow that allows you to track each task from initiation to completion. When you get your personal productivity in order you not only get more work done but also get to have more fun.

Automate Your Code Review Process

You probably already know that building applications is a complex task. Version control systems have proven to be useful when it comes to recording and tracking changes to software code. However, the more developers are collaborating on the same project, the more modifications are being suggested or made. And to ensure consistency in the quality of the code, you need to consider automating your code review process.

When reviewing code-base, you must look at both the logical and visual aspects of your code. Visual aspects include things like formatting, braces, and indentations while logical aspects include code performance, the correctness of the software code, and how the architecture patterns have been used.

By automating your code review process, you reduce your workload and save a lot of time. Tools like DangerJS and Danger Plugin: Lint Report can help you automate your code review process.

Make Use of the Right DevOps Tools

DevOps practices depend on highly effective and efficient tools that not only automate manual tasks but also streamline the development process.The DevOps workflow comprises various phases, all of which require the right tools. First, to plan for each development task at hand, you need to implement planning tools like Jira. And when you start building the software, it’s important that its performance is monitored to ensure customer satisfaction. You can monitor and log the performance of your applications using tools such as Sumo Logic, Prometheus, Rollbar, Pingdom, and Nagios. Software testing tools that won’t compromise code quality include GitLab CI, Jenkins, and CircleCI.