DevOps Tools and Toolchain made easy to understand!

#Version Control Tools

For DevOps to work, it is necessary to have different code versions which can be made accessible to all the developers working on it. It also helps keep track of the changes made by the developers. Therefore, version control tools are extremely essential for software development management. Any updates in the code are visible in real-time thereby minimizing the chances of conflicts and multiple versions.

GitHub

GitHub is the most well-known version control tool for creating and maintaining software. It provides features like collaborative coding, project management, and automation as well as security features.

GitLab

Known for its rapid delivery, this DevOps tool does everything from planning to delivery to monitoring and security. It has a built-in automated security feature and is known for vulnerability management and code quality maintenance. Besides, it provides a single interface and single data storage to manage the projects efficiently.

Concurrent Versions System

Most popular version control tool for storing the history of source codes and documents. The most beneficial feature of working with CVS is it only allows developers to work on the latest source code. Moreover, it utilizes the delta compression technique for storage management and is highly secure as it doesn’t use symbolic links.

Apache Subversion

Apache is an open-source software that uses atomic operations to eliminate data spoilage. If a developer makes any partial changes, those code alterations are not applied to the original code. Apart from that, it has a better window’s support in comparison to Git. Also, it offers a variety of plugins for Agile tools and IDE.

#Container Management Tools

Containers are an operating system virtualization method for the rapid and successful deployment of applications. These containers help in managing and collaborating with different teams. Container management tools allow the management of such containers for the effective processing of applications.

Kubernetes

Kubernetes, an open-source DevOps tool for automating deployment and management is one of the most popular container orchestration tools. It segregates containers into logical units that make management and discovery easier. It gives the advantage of hybrid, on-premises, and public cloud infrastructure that helps in moving workloads to the place you want it to be.

Docker

Docker is another container management tool that helps manage containers of virtualized applications. It provides a standard packaging format for myriad applications and helps in packaging, executing, and managing distributed applications.

Apache Mesos

Mesos is an open-source tool for cluster management, allocation of resources, scheduling across cloud environments and the overall datacenter. It runs the cloud-native and legacy applications in one cluster having pluggable scheduling policies. Also, it can scale up to 10,00 nodes easily.

#Container Integration and Deployment Tools

Jenkins

Jenkins is a Java-based extensible automation platform used for continuous integration and deployment. It automates end-to-end release management lifecycle and is easily configured via its web interface which includes error checks and built-in help. One of the biggest benefits of using Jenkins is, it can be integrated with every tool in the integration delivery toolchain.

Argo

Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool that automates the delivery of desired application states in certain specific environments. This tool follows the GitOps pattern of Git repositories to define the desired application state.

Teamcity

TeamCity is a general-purpose CI/CD solution that integrates with your test tools. It keeps test history, and signals unstable tests as erratic, and helps identify the exact cause of failures. Without creating any branches or committing any code, one can easily create and run automated tests by integrating TeamCity.

#Performance and Monitoring Tools

Datadog

Datadog is a performance monitoring tool that is used to determine performance metrics and event monitoring for cloud services and infrastructure. It compiles metrics and events across the DevOps stack and offers complete user experience visibility on one platform. This Saas-based tool also offers a customized dashboard and supports >250 integrations. It also automatically collects logs and analyses latency as well as errors.

Splunk

Spunk is a real-time data monitoring tool that improves the quality, velocity, and impact of application delivery. Since it provides real-time insights across all the stages of the delivery lifecycle, Splunk is considered to be one of the best DevOps Monitoring tools.

Prometheus

Prometheus is an open-source system monitoring and alerting tool with an active ecosystem. It is specifically used for white-box monitoring and the data collected through this application is used in the Business intelligence space. Besides, it also monitors the micro-services of the business.

Elasticsearch

Developed in Java, this open-source tool is completely scalable and provides accurate data analysis. Elasticsearch solves Big Data issues like assembling, structuring scattered data and providing unique reports for data analysis.

#Configuration Management Tools

Puppet

Puppet is a popular configuration management tool in DevOps that is used for automating infrastructure and managing various servers simultaneously. It can be used on Mac OS servers, Cisco switches, IBM mainframes, etc. Puppet also helps to collaborate developers and system administrators. It also omits the dependency of programmers on Ops team members for writing or testing applications.

Auvik

Auvik is a cloud-based tool for real-time network mapping and inventory, network traffic analysis, automated configuration back-up, and restoration on network devices. You can simply manage the network from anywhere.

Chef

Based on Ruby DSL language, this configuration management tool automates operations and tasks across various servers and devices. It manages the company’s server and gets easily integrated with cloud technology.

#Artifact Management Tools

Artifact Management tools are repositories used to organize, distribute and store binary files called artifacts, in a single location. These tools allow developers to find the correct version of the artifacts quickly and with ease.

Cloud Repo

Cloud Repo offers public and private repositories to store artifacts and share them for using it in other development environments. It is simply a storage platform where developers can save their code securely, create backups and restore easily.

ProGet

ProGet is generally used for centralizing the data, software applications as well as components from where they can be accessed easily through your network. ProGet is made of universal packages, components, and docker images for software applications. It is also one of the most useful tools to create internal libraries for managing multiple package versions.

JFrog

JFrog is a universal DevOps solution that offers complete automation for distributing software releases code to production. This platform seamlessly integrates with all the environments and supports all major packages.

#Test automation Tools

Test automation utilizes automation frameworks and tools for test scripts that check the functionality of the application. Using test automation, you can identify bugs and save a lot of time. These tools can automate testing, minimizing chances of human errors thereby increasing reliability. Here are some of the popular test automation tools:

Selenium

Selenium is used to automate web admin tasks and web applications. Its IDE component records and playback interactions with the browser. Selenium web driver also creates regression automation suites and tests that help in scaling scripts and distributing them across various environments.

Ranorex

This all-in-one automation tool offers cross-browser testing and allows simple integration with issue tracking tools, CI servers, etc. Ranorex contains all essential tools to create reliable web, desktop, and mobile application tests and execute them across devices. In short, Ranorex gives max return on test automation investment.

Ansible

Ansible is designed for multi-tier deployments and automates configuration management, application deployment, and cloud provisioning. Since this tool doesn’t utilize agents and custom security infrastructure, it is easier to deploy. Moreover, the library of modules doesn’t require servers and databases, it resides on machines.

Collaboration

Collaboration in DevOps is the effective communication and correspondence between multiple teams. These teams collaborate and work to automate development, testing, improvement, etc. The entire process is carried out with the help of collaboration tools. These tools facilitate efficiency by helping teams to communicate from any location, at any time. This leads to faster software deployment, minimizing the product market time. Some examples of collaboration tools include Skype, Campfire, and Slack.

Planning

Customers, stakeholders, and representatives that work in different teams work for a common objective. Therefore, it is important that transparency of goals is maintained at all levels. There are certain planning tools like Asana and Clarizan that provide such clarity.

Source Control

Teams require a centralized space for storing codes, reports, documentation, information and records. This storage space is known as source code which is categorized and segregated for teams to carry out their tasks. Source control tools help organize and track this data flow and let the team utilize the information effectively without any security breaches. Some of the popular source control tools are Git, Subversion, and Git.

Issue Tracking

When the teams use similar tracking tools, they can drastically improve the performance of their software. All the teams can identify the same issues and work on improving similar issues in the future. Jira, Zendesk, and Backlog are among the most effective tools that assist in identifying loopholes in the product easily.

Configuration Management

Configuration and updates are an imperative part of software maintenance. In order to manage the code without any issues or discrepancies, configuration management tools are used. Ansible, Chef, and Puppet are a few examples of the best configuration management tools.

Continuous Integration

In a software development lifecycle, code is created by different teams which are simultaneously integrated together. The chunks of codes created by each team may work perfectly well individually. However, they may cause issues when integrated. Therefore, continuous integration tools like Jenkins or Teamcity are used to detect and resolve such anomalies quickly.

Binary Repositories

When a code is created, it is essential that it flows seamlessly between the development and production environments. Thus a repository managing tool is required for smooth communication and consistent code creation. Also, to maintain elements like antiquities, metadata, and more that are a part of the repository.
Artifactory and Nexus are the two most well-known binary repositories.

Monitoring

The monitoring phase is required for smooth product execution. In order to do so, monitoring tools are utilized for optimal performance and maximum product uptime. Tools like Sensu and BigPanda guarantee that the applications are running perfectly.

Automated Testing

Before the entire integrated code goes to the production environment, it must be tested for any faults or bugs. The faster the feedback loop runs, the quicker will be the delivery of the software. Thus, automated testing tools come into use to ensure product quality is maintained throughout the process. Examples of automated testing tools: Ranorex, Ansible, TestComplete, etc.

Deployment

The development allows application deployment to be consistent and reliable. For products to reach the market faster, deployment tools are mandatory. Docker toolset and IBM uDeploy are two such examples of deployment tools.

Database

Every project has a large amount of researched and implemented data which requires organization. Database management tools are required to handle such a vast volume of data to make it searchable for developers. TeamDesk is a great example of a database management tool.