What is DevOps for Business Applications

What exactly is DevOps for Business Applications? To start, let’s rewind a bit to traditional DevOps. 

Traditional DevOps

Classic DevOps is a set of practices and philosophies that brings software development (Dev) and software operations (Ops) into a harmonious, all-hands-on-deck approach.

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It’s main goal? Shorten the development life cycle, speed up deployments and make sure quality is sky-high through CI/CD for Salesforce practices.

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How does it achieve all that? Through collaboration, automation and monitoring, every step of the way –– from planning, building to testing, releasing and operating. DevOps keeps software development fast, efficient and secure, giving us the superpower of continuous improvement.

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Infrastructure and Delivery

Traditional developers build code from scratch, using Open Source. Typically, this code runs “in the cloud” on virtual machines hosted by platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, IBM and Alibaba.

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These virtual machines rely on Infrastructure as Code (IaC) languages like Terraform or Ansible to specify configurations, ensuring everything is set up for performance and security. Infrastructure engineers handle this, monitoring both high performance and network security needs to keep everything running smoothly.

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Here, DevOps collaboration tends to stay within technical teams, while delivery cycles take longer, even in agile environments that develop in sprints. And while agile, these projects often still stick to a relatively fixed scope –– no last-minute surprises.

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Leveraging Off-the-Shelf Software

DevOps for Business Applications goes beyond traditional DevOps, tailoring practices for enterprise and mid-market needs.

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Here, instead of building from scratch, organizations rely on Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software (COTS) on Business Application Platforms like Salesforce –– no need to build or test for network security from the ground up.

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DevOps for Business Applications goes beyond traditional DevOps, tailoring practices for enterprise and mid-market needs.

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Here, instead of building from scratch, organizations rely on Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software (COTS) on Business Application Platforms like Salesforce –– no need to build or test for network security from the ground up.

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These business applications are highly customized to suit specific needs, with frequent updates. Collaboration isn’t just about developers and release managers ––  the business itself is an equal partner in every step.

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The pace? Fast. Because business application development aims to tackle real-world business processes that change frequently, frequent releases and a focus on user training are critical. This dynamic is just one example of the DevOps challenges in business applications, requiring unique solutions to keep pace. 

Expanding with Low-Code Platforms for More Flexibility

Low-code Business Application Platforms like Salesforce bring a new level of flexibility with point-and-click configuration, letting administrators build and deploy business applications without writing extensive code. Why code when you can click? It’s perfect for non-coders who can now roll out updates as fast as traditional developers (minus the caffeine-fueled late nights).

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And with DevOps for Business Applications pipelines, these low-code or no-code resources get to work within the same source code-driven DevOps processes that professional coders use. It’s an inclusive, efficient approach where everyone’s pulling their weight — just with a lot fewer lines of code.

Integrating Low Code, Metadata and Proprietary Languages

Applications built on low-code platforms are a unique mix of traditional code and configuration, or metadata (MD). Now, while code slots in nicely with traditional software development tools, metadata? That’s a whole different story.

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Metadata is proprietary to each platform provider. It doesn’t always play nice with existing tools, requiring specialized strategies like Salesforce business process automation to effectively handle complex integrations.

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Adding to this complexity, many Business Application Platforms have their own programming languages, like Salesforce’s Apex and SAP’s ABAP. These custom languages introduce extra hurdles for developers who want to integrate with existing DevOps processes.

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In the world of DevOps for business applications, you’re not just dealing with coders. You’ve got diverse teams: Some experts in code, others fluent in low-code configurations. While developers use complex tools that use a Command Line Interface (CLI) and version control with branching, low-code admins might find these tools baffling –– and frankly, don’t want to learn them.

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Copado bridges this gap, supporting both groups by simplifying version control for low-coders and enabling them to work alongside developers in a seamless pipeline. Salesforce automated testing through Copado, for example, provides a shared platform that accelerates deployment and quality checks.

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Tackling Metadata Complexity

With over a decade supporting proprietary metadata, Copado understands the pain points of combining metadata with code in a unified version control system. Business Application Platforms rely heavily on unique metadata configurations, and Copado’s tools manage this complexity, making it smoother to integrate both code and configuration in one DevOps flow.

Built for Expanding Enterprise Platforms

Enterprise platforms may start out as single monolithic systems, but they evolve––often through acquisitions––into federated ecosystems, each with unique quirks.

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Salesforce alone has seven distinct “clouds” and a thriving ISV community, with thousands of apps configured largely through data records. Copado’s robust DevOps platform supports the full Salesforce ecosystem, adapting to every cloud and every app. Even better, it’s designed as a true platform, enabling customers and partners to develop custom DevOps support for any business application environment.

Staying Current with Constant Updates

The fast-paced evolution of Business Application Platforms means regular updates. While these upgrades offer more capabilities, they demand that DevOps tools keep pace. Copado releases updates monthly, ensuring compatibility and continuous support for the latest changes.

Built to Evolve with your Business Applications

DevOps for Business Applications isn’t just “DevOps-lite” for platforms like Salesforce. It’s a whole new game –– one where off-the-shelf software, frequent updates and cross-team collaboration take the lead. And Copado? It’s made to handle every twist and turn. 

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Supporting all seven Salesforce clouds, managing app integrations and uniting low-code admins with developers, Copado’s DevOps platform adapts to exactly what modern business apps demand: flexibility, inclusivity and pace. 

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Here, DevOps means more than just development and operations. It’s a system that evolves with every new business need. So, go ahead –– stay ahead. Copado keeps your DevOps right where your business needs it.