Software development lifecycle
The software development lifecycle encompasses every step from the initial idea and requirements, to live applications and beyond. Learn about the latest ALM and CI/CD tools for the SDLC, as well as top methodologies and processes in use.
Top Stories
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Tip
19 Nov 2024
Top 10 Jenkins alternatives
Tired of the overhead of hosting your own Jenkins installation and looking for some alternatives? Here are 10 of the best. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2024
Continuous delivery vs. continuous deployment: Which to choose?
Continuous delivery and continuous deployment both compress and de-risk the final stages of production rollout. Learn how to choose the proper path for your organization. Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
Latest Uplevel tool enables software engineering efficiency
With Project Explorer, Uplevel enables development teams to improve efficiency by identifying potential risks and monitoring the overall health of projects. Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2021
CircleCI orbs go private for DevOps teams
CircleCI has released new functionality that enables developers to build CircleCI orb configuration packages that run only in their private enterprise environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Feb 2021
9 techniques for fixing bugs in production
Some companies defend against bugs with a strong offense of rapid iterations and feature flags. Others find the best defense is thorough test coverage. Here's what works and why. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2021
Dynatrace expands observability tools with an eye toward BI
With new features and roadmap plans, Dynatrace looked past IT observability toward becoming a broader business intelligence platform. Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Feb 2021
How ALM differs from SDLC
ALM and SDLC both cover much of the same ground, such as development, testing and deployment. Where these lifecycle concepts differ is the scope of what they include. Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
New CloudBees CEO eyes IPO, M&A to build DevOps tools
CloudBees co-founder Sacha Labourey will lead product strategy for the company's DevOps tools, while new CEO Stephen DeWitt readies the business for its next stage of growth. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2021
Docker taps JFrog Artifactory for developer partnership
A new partnership helps developers access Docker Hub through JFrog Artifactory to simplify how DevOps teams work together. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Jan 2021
How to elicit performance requirements
Eliciting performance requirements from business end users necessitates a clearly defined scope and the right set of questions. Expert Mary Gorman explains how to effectively gather information. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Sep 2020
Functional vs. nonfunctional requirements in software engineering
Learn the meaning of functional vs. nonfunctional requirements in software engineering, with helpful examples. Then, see how to write both and build a product that users will love. Continue Reading
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Quiz
16 Sep 2020
Application performance monitoring tools and metrics quiz
Sharpen your pencil; it's APM quiz time. Test your knowledge of application performance monitoring and management, including tools, systems, concepts and best practices. Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2020
Oracle moves OpenJDK to Git and GitHub
As Git and GitHub gain momentum with a majority of developers, Oracle has moved the OpenJDK repository to the Git source code management system and GitHub hosting platform. Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2020
IBM's OpenAPI Comment Parser helps devs document APIs
IBM's OpenAPI Comment Parser gives developers a new tool to simplify the process of documenting APIs, so that developers down the line will be able to use them with less effort. Continue Reading
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Video
05 Aug 2020
5 advantages of GitLab CI/CD pipelines
Products can ease the oft-cumbersome CI/CD process. In this video tutorial, walk through five ways GitLab enables and eases CI/CD for DevOps teams and professionals. Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Aug 2020
The case for cybersecurity by design in application software
Security must be part of IT from the start and then continue through the entire product lifecycle -- design, build, release and maintenance. Consumers now demand it. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jul 2020
GitKraken vs. Sourcetree: Pick a Git GUI that fits dev needs
Git GUIs give developers a visual means to manipulate source code repositories. Learn why GitKraken and Sourcetree are popular options among developers, and where each stands out. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2020
JFrog taps partners, adds features to bolster DevOps platform
JFrog fills gaps in its DevOps platform with new features and partnerships with tool providers to help developers ship secure code and use issue-free open source code. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jul 2020
How to prevent accidental complexity in software development
Software products contain both essential and accidental complexity. To fight accidental complexity, avoid overambitious designs, coding flaws and other common problem areas. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jul 2020
Top 5 benefits of Jenkins for CI/CD pipelines
Many software teams continue to use open source Jenkins for CI/CD, despite other platforms on the market. Here's how Jenkins fits what teams look for in CI/CD tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jul 2020
Top software documentation tools and how to use them
The best software documentation helps frame development projects and improve existing offerings. Learn the ins and outs of popular software documentation types and tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2020
4 common software maintenance models and when to use them
Should you use a quick-fix or closed-loop maintenance model for the software project on your development team's plate? What about iterative? Learn the benefits, use cases and limits of four common models. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2020
Uplevel targets software engineering efficiency amid pandemic
Uplevel, a startup analytics vendor whose platform aims to aid engineering efficiency, rolled out three new tools on Tuesday to assist developers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Reading
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Video
22 May 2020
Follow this step-by-step Bamboo CI/CD tutorial
Train with this video tutorial to learn how to use Bamboo, setting up a CI/CD pipeline. Customize it with triggers, learn how to control branches and more. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 May 2020
Software development must align with your business-side team
Software development has become a company-wide process, with business teams now offering their input. DevOps must learn to work with them for projects to succeed. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Apr 2020
DevSecOps and the changing view of security for DevOps
Organizations shouldn't keep DevOps and security siloed. Bring them together as DevSecOps, ensuring security is built into applications earlier and with less of a struggle. Continue Reading
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Video
22 Apr 2020
GitHub Actions tutorial walks through a CI/CD setup
New to GitHub Actions? Get started with this video tutorial, which walks step by step through the process to make a CI/CD workflow, using Terraform and Azure as an example. Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2020
GitHub Free expanded to support teams
The free tier of GitHub’s version control platform is now available to entire teams, after previously being limited to individuals and small groups. Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2020
Atlassian taps AWS, Sentry and Snyk for Bitbucket Pipelines
Atlassian has created a promotion around its Bitbucket Pipelines CI/CD platform to help developers gain access to tools that will help them turn out error-free code. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Mar 2020
Reduce these forms of AI bias from devs and testers
Watch out for cognitive biases in every development and testing decision -- especially AI biases that affect software users. Here are the ways to address common issues. Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2020
Coronavirus forces switch to remote work for DevOps teams
The new coronavirus pandemic will force most DevOps teams to work remotely and may also interfere with work schedules. Experts share advice on how to weather the disruption. Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2020
GitHub for mobile brings dev platform to small screens
GitHub for mobile delivers a fully native iOS and Android development experience of the popular GitHub source code version control service for developers. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
LightStep targets developers with new observability tool
LightStep hones its observability software with its new Service Health for Deployments feature, which helps developers find and fix service health issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2020
Pick user-centric software performance testing metrics
Unlike other types of tests, performance tests gauge how well an application works -- not whether it fails. Testers must pay close attention to these metrics to keep end users happy. Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2020
Developers could ease DevOps deployment with CircleCI Orbs
With a new suite of 20 CircleCI integrations known as Orbs, CircleCI targets developers who wish to simplify the automation of their deployments from their CI/CD pipelines. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Use intrusive testing to push software to, and past, its limits
Grab your sledgehammer and get to work with destructive software testing. Here's how to use these intrusive methods to identify points of failure before software reaches users. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jan 2020
Startup Uplevel targets software engineering efficiency
Startup vendor Uplevel emerged from stealth on Wednesday touting a platform aimed at improving the efficiency of software engineers by using data analysis. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2019
Automation, UX among top software development goals for 2020
New Year's resolutions are a way to take stock of where we are, and where we want to be. Programmers, QA testers, UX designers and others share their software dev goals for 2020. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2019
5 can't-miss software development news stories of 2019
Before you finalize your 2020 plans, take a minute to catch up on app-dev news stories that will shape the next year. Here are the five top news stories for 2019, with analysis. Continue Reading
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Podcast
20 Dec 2019
DevOps in the enterprise requires focus on security, visibility
App dev, quality and delivery challenges constantly pop up in DevOps implementations. Hear how overworked IT professionals deal with these challenges, and how tools can help -- or not. Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2019
Manual mainframe testing persists in the age of automation
Mainframe testing is still done manually by many IT shops, despite mainframe modernization and digitization efforts that benefit from automated software testing methods. Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2019
IBM's latest Kubernetes tools ease use for cloud developers
IBM's new open-source Kubernetes tools help lower the barrier to entry for developers to use Kubernetes to build, deploy, manage and move workloads to the cloud. Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2019
Atlassian products aid BizDevOps, but integration work remains
IT pros have found Atlassian tools useful for BizDevOps initiatives but would like more integration and consolidated points of management among them in the future. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2019
10 tips for effective change management in Agile
Agile development encourages product owners to address customer needs through change. Follow these 10 tips for change requests and management practices that keep projects on track. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2019
How to tame ever-changing requirements in software development
When one sprint ends, another begins -- but not before you receive a heaping new pile of requirements. Here's how to deal with requirements changes efficiently, every time, any time. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2019
Working with Git branches and repositories
With a grasp of just a few basic concepts and commands, developers can use Git's branching capability for feature development and experimentation, testing before release and more. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Sep 2019
software requirements specification (SRS)
A software requirements specification (SRS) is a comprehensive description of the intended purpose and environment for software under development. The SRS fully describes what the software will do and how it will be expected to perform... (Continued) Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Sep 2019
How to achieve speedy application response times
Development and operations teams both have a responsibility to ensure fast application response times. Follow this advice to measure and reduce delay. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2019
Low-code goes mainstream to ease app dev woes
Enterprises are after low-code/no-code platforms to help with developer productivity, as they find themselves under increased pressure to produce apps with fewer skilled developers. Continue Reading
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News
28 Aug 2019
Atomist adds drift management feature to pare technical debt
Atomist has added a feature to its software delivery automation platform to help enterprises visualize, identify and fix the problem of technology drift. Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2019
IBM, VMware ease Kubernetes complexity with Kabanero, Octant
Tools from IBM and VMware help developers build apps that are deployed on Kubernetes clusters, as well as handle complex Kubernetes workloads. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Aug 2019
IT training flaws compound DevOps skills shortage
Before investing in an online course to learn new IT skills, heed this warning from brain scientists: there is a big difference between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Aug 2019
ALM tools face-off pits SpiraTeam vs. Jira
Development teams must adopt an ALM tool that supports its procedures and objectives. Atlassian and Inflectra cater to different size dev teams. Which tool fits your needs? Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2019
GitHub shakes up DevOps space, adds CI/CD to GitHub Actions
GitHub has added support for CI/CD to its source code management platform, based on developer feedback for deeper CI/CD integration. Continue Reading
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Guide
01 Aug 2019
Get the most out of version control in software engineering
Version control is a key concept in software engineering, as it enables dev teams to make code changes without overwrites or miscues. Learn version control basics with this guide. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
IBM Garage tunes up clients for multi-cloud projects
IBM's Garage methodology, which has helped more than 500 customers move to the cloud, modernize legacy apps and create new ones, has expanded its language support and internal use. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jul 2019
Discern these open source license terms to avoid legal snags
Fluent in Ruby but at a loss in legalese? Open source licenses obligate developers to observe specific conditions, so you must know these terms. Let's break them down in plain English. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jul 2019
GitHub Enterprise features, dev appeals reveal strategy
GitHub made moves in 2018 and 2019 to broaden and deepen its user base. Learn the major changes that users should know before committing code on the platform. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jul 2019
Define a continuous improvement process with EA models, practices
Continuous improvement isn't just about centers of excellence or feedback loops. Ultimately, it must bring the vast enterprise architecture into rapid-fire code changes, and vice versa. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
09 Jul 2019
Pick up basic Git commands with a hands-on tutorial
To get things done in Git, know your commands. Open up the version control system and replicate this quick tutorial to learn how to run crucial inputs. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2019
5 common open source software licenses you need to know
Everyone likes getting credit, but not everyone remembers to give it. Learn what conditions open source licenses impose, such as copyright notices and redistribution rules. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2019
CollabNet, Icon Agility team up for value stream management
The companies are combining CollabNet's value stream management platform with Icon's agility strategy consulting to help enterprises adopt value stream management and DevOps. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jun 2019
How GitHub and Bitbucket augment key Git features
Learn how GitHub and Bitbucket enhance the Git version control system, enabling management and security on top of Git's native abilities to clarify workflows and protect data. Continue Reading
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Video
19 Jun 2019
Step-by-step tutorial to install Git Integration for Jira
If your team uses Jira and desperately needs more streamlined and comprehensible project updates, check out this video overview of the Git integration add-on. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2019
CloudBees Rollout buy may herald a future of feature flags
Feature flags can be a powerful tool to test code in production, and that spurred Cloudbees' acquisition of Rollout -- but as always, with great power comes great responsibility. Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2019
GitHub Enterprise security, monitoring tools target large orgs
Additional tools and services in GitHub Enterprise, such as security vulnerability alerts and auditing for open source dependencies, seek to satisfy the company's large customers. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 May 2019
Enlist Jira for testing with these test management add-ons
With the right add-ons, Jira users can turn the tracking product into a potent test management platform. Gauge your organization's Agile maturity, and then consider these options. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2019
Docker Enterprise pricing shake-up leaves unanswered questions
IT pros begin to evaluate the long-term budget implications of a significant change to the Docker Enterprise pricing scheme. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Apr 2019
Common software compatibility issues and how to fix them
Developers tend to look forward, to the next iteration or the newest software. But, when releasing a feature, don't leave behind end users with older systems and edge case setups. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Apr 2019
How low-code governance helps IT protect data, limit sprawl
Low-code app developers must adhere to policies that govern data and resource usage. Lacking governance puts budgets, security and compliance at risk. Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2019
SmartBear LoadNinja API automates performance testing for CI/CD
A REST API for SmartBear LoadNinja enables development teams to add load testing directly into their CI/CD workflows to automate performance testing for developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Apr 2019
Select between distributed version control systems and tools
Before you branch out with a new version control tool, assess the pros and cons of these different options, and make sure to ask for developers' opinions. Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2019
Continuous Delivery Foundation seeks smoother CI/CD paths
The Linux Foundation's latest project aims to connect CI/CD toolmakers, users and open source projects to establish technical specs for continuous delivery. Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2019
Atlassian, AgileCraft join to scale Agile development
With its acquisition of AgileCraft, Atlassian aims to help developers work better together, but also scale their Agile practices across an entire enterprise. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Mar 2019
How to deprecate software features without bothering users
There's more to software deprecation than it seems. Organizations must consider the method of deprecation, how to inform users and what alternatives they should offer. Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2019
Microsoft, Deque open up accessibility software tools
Microsoft will release the source code to its core accessibility software testing tools and join forces with Deque to help developers find and fix accessibility issues. Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
Automate, customize CI/CD pipelines with Bitbucket Pipes
Atlassian's new Bitbucket Pipes helps developers automate and customize DevOps pipelines to boost developer productivity. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Mar 2019
Compare trunk-based development to feature-based approaches
The repo-centric trunk-based development model can be a good fit for teams adept enough to maintain a codebase. But it means taking the road less traveled. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2019
DevOps consolidation continues with JFrog and Shippable
JFrog's acquisition of Shippable gives JFrog another arrow in its DevOps quiver and enables its customers to use an integrated DevOps platform that includes CI/CD. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Feb 2019
Concourse vs. Drone: Pick a CI/CD tool that fits your team
For CI/CD, a software team should weigh how well a tool fits into its existing practices. Drone and Concourse each highlight ease of use and pipeline features. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Feb 2019
Get to know the version control process
Distributed version control systems use is on the rise, particularly because they aid in collaborative development. Learn the basics of version control to get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2019
How to document software requirements without hating your job
Software requirements specifications explain, in painstaking detail, what is expected of a project. So, why develop without one? It's not worth the risk. Read why an SRS is vital. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2019
GitHub Enterprise upgrade eases team development
Enhancements to GitHub Enterprise help enterprise developers schedule, automate and administrate tasks, as the company adjusts course under Microsoft's watch. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2019
How to write and structure worthwhile SRS documentation
Software projects contain many moving parts, and a miscommunication can derail them easily. Keep everyone on the same page with clear and exhaustive requirements specifications. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jan 2019
Ansible vs. Puppet: Declarative DevOps tools square off
Vendors in the declarative DevOps space cater to the increasing emphasis on software quality in the release cycle. See how Puppet and Ansible stack up in this face-off. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
GitHub courts devs with unified GitHub Enterprise, free repos
GitHub wants to grow its base with its offer of unlimited free private repositories for users of GitHub's free plan and enhancements to the enterprise version of its hosting service. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2019
Learn the basics before you work with Git
Git can scale with complex environments, but more conflicts can arise. Get the Git basics down before your developers use forks or branches for projects. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2018
Which APM tool works for devs, CIOs? New Relic vs. Stackify
Stackify Retrace and New Relic tools typify a divide between developers and CIOs on application monitoring. The products share many capabilities, but those features aren't equally granular or accessible. Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2018
Electric Cloud boosts DevOps orchestration, visibility
As enterprises increase their DevOps tooling investments, Electric Cloud aims to position itself as an orchestrator for the disparate teams and technologies within an organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2018
Construct a better build-deploy pipeline with these 6 measures
Developers can launch code to production faster than ever, and still do it safely, with careful attention to the build-deploy pipeline, tests and monitoring metrics. Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2018
For developers, GitHub Actions takes automation a step forward
The GitHub Actions tool lets developers automate their software development workflows with containers in the GitHub environment without the need to run code themselves. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2018
Jenkins Configuration as Code eases dev and admin woes
Version 1.0 of a CloudBees plug-in aims to help developers and administrators advance CI/CD while saving time and effort with Jenkins configuration tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2018
The developer's crash course to the application network
Developers, we get it; you don't want to deal with the network. But hear us out, as a basic understanding of subnets, VPNs and IP addresses boost app stability and performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Aug 2018
Prevent AI bias in predictive applications before it starts
While AI offers predictive insights, developers must train AI models to ensure accurate results. These five types of input, in particular, can cause poor output from the finished app. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2018
What the CI process can and can't do for software delivery
Continuous integration, software delivery and deployment are distinct software lifecycle stages, but they are far more complementary than competitive in modern dev methodologies. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
21 Jun 2018
Why QA, CI falter without automated release management
Automating software release management can help speed deployments and improve continuous integration processes and application quality. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2018
Jaguar Land Rover, BI Worldwide share GitLab migration pros and cons
Enterprise DevOps pros that switched to GitLab from GitHub and Atlassian tools share their experiences as Microsoft refugees eye GitHub competitors post acquisition. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Jun 2018
IT pros weigh Git version control against the competition
You won't get far today without version control to safely iterate on application code. But is Git -- or one of the many commercial products based on Git -- right for your team? Continue Reading
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Video
16 May 2018
Learn how to install Jenkins CI to enhance your DevOps skills
In this video tutorial, we demonstrate how to install Jenkins CI, and subsequently run a simple build job. It's a first step to acquire key DevOps skills. Continue Reading
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Video
14 May 2018
How to create CI builds with the Jenkins freestyle project
In this video tutorial, we explore how build jobs work in the Jenkins continuous integration tool. Watch as we create a simple freestyle Jenkins project and then run the corresponding job. Continue Reading
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Quiz
01 May 2018
What do you know about continuous software development?
What's the difference between continuous development and deployment? Take the quiz to see if you can distinguish among all the continuous software processes. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Mar 2018
IBM goes full steam toward eliminating AI problems
At IBM Think 2018, CEO Ginni Rometty discusses ways and tools to overcome AI problems and bottlenecks. Continue Reading