Shift left or someone else’s problem

DevOps has been revolutionising the way software development and deployment is done for a few years now. One of the trends in DevOps is the concept of "shifting left," which means that instead of addressing problems in the later stages of a products lifetime, such as when its deployed, teams are trying to address them earlier on. This approach is gaining popularity in the DevOps world, but some sceptics question whether it's simply passing the buck or a genuine effort to address gaps sooner.

The concept of shifting left is an attempt to address the challenges that arise when software development is siloed, and operations are handled separately from development. Traditionally, developers would write code, pass it off to a separate operations team, and only discover problems in the later stages of the development process, such as during testing or deployment. This approach can result in delays and bottlenecks that hinder the development process and make it more challenging to deliver high-quality software.

Shifting left means that teams are trying to address issues earlier in the development process. Instead of relying on a separate operations team to identify and fix problems, developers are taking ownership of the entire development lifecycle, from writing code to deployment. This approach involves adopting practices such as continuous integration and continuous delivery, which help teams catch issues sooner, resulting in faster feedback loops and more efficient development cycles.

Critics of shifting left argue that it's simply passing the buck to developers and expecting them to solve problems that should be handled by operations teams. They point out that this approach can put a strain on developers, who may not have the expertise or bandwidth to handle complex operations issues.

However, proponents of shifting left argue that it's a concerted effort to address gaps sooner, resulting in better collaboration and more efficient development cycles. By adopting a DevOps mindset and taking ownership of the entire development lifecycle, teams can work together to catch issues earlier, resulting in fewer delays and higher-quality software.

In conclusion, shifting left is a promising trend in DevOps that aims to address the challenges of traditional software development. While some critics argue that it's simply passing the buck, proponents argue that it's a concerted effort to address gaps sooner, resulting in better collaboration and more efficient development cycles. Ultimately, the success of shifting left depends on how well teams can adopt a DevOps mindset and work together to improve the entire development lifecycle.