Grant Fritchey (b/t) is our host for T-SQL Tuesday this month and surprise surprise he’d like to talk about DEVOPS. (As he put it, it was either that or execution plans.) Now I’m not highly knowlegable about DevOps myself. I mean I have a general idea what it’s all about but that’s about it. So let’s start with a quick definition. I took my definition from Wikipedia so if you don’t like it take it up with them. 🙂

DevOps (a clipped compound of “software DEVelopment” and “information technology OPerationS”) is a term used to refer to a set of practices that emphasize the collaboration and communication of both software developers and information technology (IT) professionals while automating the process of software delivery and infrastructure changes. It aims at establishing a culture and environment where building, testing, and releasing software can happen rapidly, frequently, and more reliably.

In very basic terms (as I understand it): Collaboration (talk to each other people) and Automation, Automation, Automation (if it can run on its own then it should be).

All of this is great stuff. But as even Grant said in his invite it tends to get a bad wrap because people don’t implement it well. And why don’t people do a better job? Personally, I blame upper management (at least in some cases).

A couple of caveats here. I am not a manager, I’ve never been a manager, I never want to be a manager. I also think highly of good managers (and there are a lot of them out there) so please don’t take this as a bash on management. This is a bash on a habit I see in management.

What is that habit? Buzzword Bingo.

Ever been part of a team or a company that implements every new thing that comes along?

• Agile starts getting mentioned a bunch. A few months later and you’re an agile shop. Lots of agile training and a high-speed implementation. Unfortunately, high-speed does not equal in depth, but there you go.
• Hey! There is this cool new thing called the Cloud! Everything we do should be in the Cloud from now on! Lots of Cloud training. Projects moved into the cloud whether they should be or not. A hard push into the cloud but without a lot of planning ahead of time.
• DevOps is here! All hail DevOps! Let’s all get DevOps training! And again rush to implement without really spending a lot of time planning things out.

And again, I’m not saying that these aren’t great things. I’m not even saying that management isn’t trying to do the right thing. But when EVERY new thing is implemented, it starts to feel fishy.

Not everything is right for you or your team. Take your time. Talk to your people. Think things through and implement carefully, not quickly. Or carefully, and quickly I don’t care. Just remember, just because people are talking about it doesn’t mean you have to do it.

So you can play buzzword bingo during your next meeting, here is your very own bingo card! Because this is a DevOps post you get that one free!