You might be readily familiar with who software engineer is and what they do. The not-too-familiar tech guys are the ones under DevOps. There are certain misconceptions about who a DevOps engineer is; this might as well be the first time you see the word, and it has sparked your curiosity. Not to worry, this article aims to enlighten you on both tech careers, what they do and how their duties are distinct from the other. In this articles lets see DevOps Vs Software Engineer.
DevOps is a combination of ”Development” and ”Operation”. Individuals who work here are responsible for synchronizing the work of the developers and operation team. At the same time, Software Engineers create tools they use to build, design, evaluate or maintain various computer software.
This article will be divided into three sections. Namely Section A, Section B, and Section C. The breakdown of these sections is below:
Section A
Who is a DevOps Engineer?
A DevOps Engineer as a synchronizer between developers and the system operation team aims to shorten the software development process or life. They foster teamwork, effective communication, and incorporation between development (application/software engineering), technical or systems operations, and quality assurance (QA) teams.
DevOps Engineers use certain tools to get their job done, but to them, its sit’s not all about tools but people and how they work well together. For DevOps to function correctly, it requires three components: people, processes, and tools
Duties and Responsibilities of a DevOps Engineer
DevOps are about continuous integration and delivery or deployment (CI/CD) before release. Therefore, the DevOps engineer’s engineer’s main duty is to ensure that this process (leading to the deployment of software development) is very efficient. It is upon this fundamental duty that other responsibilities are birthed.
Some other duties of a DevOps Engineer include:
- During a project, they are in charge of designing the activities, structure, and involvement of all parties or teams involved.
- They determine the development, trials, deployment, release, update, support, and rollback processes.
- They ensure an increased feedback loop between different parts of the team or organization at the production phase before it gets to quality assurance or consumer.
- They are responsible for collaboration and effective communication among everyone involved in the value chain of the product (the production team, management, and customers).
- They select and deploy suitable CI/CD tools.
- Ensuring the lifecycle of the production process is shortened, and there’s minimal back and forth.
Why is DevOps’s Role Important?
Some of the importance of DevOps include:
- It aids or leads to decreased deployment failures or oversights and increased release in a shorter period of time.
- It makes the project team more efficient.
- It ensures effective communication and collaboration among members of the value chain. Effective communication leads to more productivity.
- Ultimately, DevOps shortens the development time frame or cycle.
Who Can Work as a DevOps Engineer?
- Anyone with a higher education qualification or degree in computer science or a related field.
- Anyone with a level of DevOps tech industrial experience.
- Anyone with non-technical Knowledge or experience.
- Anyone who is skilled in at least one source code management tool, such as Git
- Anyone with enough interest and commitment towards learning.
Skills or Qualifications You Need to Become a DevOps Engineer
Experienced or not, becoming a DevOps Engineer requires that you get or develop certain technical and non-technical skills. They include:
- Knowledge or understanding of relevant DevOps tools and technologies.
- A combination of soft skills like self-motivation, teamwork, critical thinking, stress management and organizational skills.
- Good communication skills
- The ability to anticipate future problems, needs and solutions; being proactive.
- A customer centered mindset
- Automation skills
- Code management and testing skills
- Cloud skills and Knowledge of web scripting
Section B
Who is a Software Engineer?
A software engineer is one who analyzes the needs of prospective users and then they go-ahead to build, design, test, and maintain applications that would satisfy those needs.
Software engineers have helped to meet the needs of software engineers, include creating or building websites, web applications, Gaming Applications, Mobile Applications, etc.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Software Engineer
Some of the duties of a software engineer include:
- To analyze users’ needs and design, construct and maintain user applications.
- To modify already designed software in order to fix oversight and errors and improve overall performance.
- Collaborate with other members (systems analysts, programmers, engineers, DevOps) of a project to create systems, collect data on all aspects of the project, and think up solutions to problems.
- They also meet with clients to discuss software system design and maintenance.
Why is the Software Engineer Role Important?
- Human wants are insatiable. Software engineers would always need to design, build or modify software based on user requirements.
- We are in a digital age, but without the impact or inputs of software engineers, many individuals would be unable to take advantage of the offerings of the internet.
- Software engineers are always there to modify or fix the oversight. Users do not have to be stuck using applications that are not user-friendly.
- It encourages team spirit. You can not create, design, or modify software without the impact of other team players.
Who Can Work as a Software Engineer?
- Individuals with a B.Sc degree in computer and its related courses.
- Individuals with a high school diploma and years of field experience
- Individuals without experience or computer-related degrees are simply willing to learn.
Skills or Qualifications You Need to Become a Software Engineer
- Good understanding or Knowledge of software engineering tools, technologies, processes, and terminologies.
- Ability to work well with a team and also alone
- Ability to communicate effectively
- Problem-solving skills
- Sound research skills
- The ability to multitask, handle various projects, and still meet up with deadlines.
- Ability to analyze user needs and business requirements and satisfy them.
Section C
Places DevOps and Software Engineers can work
- High-tech companies like Google, Facebook, etc
- Research and development industries
- Government and defense
- Retail industries
- Health care industries as Health IT professionals
Conclusion
We trust that the difference is crystal clear now between a DevOps Engineer and a Software Engineer. An interesting fact about these career paths is that they are also open to individuals with non-technical experience.
Are you new to tech? Are you just considering it? Whichever aspect you fall into, this career path is open to you as much as it is open to individuals with computer-related degrees.
All you need is interest and the zeal to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is DevOps Engineering better than Software Engineering?
None is better than the other. If the Software Engineer doesn’t do their work, there will be nothing for the DevOps to release. And if the DevOps Engineer doesn’t work on preparing the software for release, the software Engineer’sEngineer’s work wouldn’t be seen by anyone. So, both roles are equally important.
2. Can a DevOps Engineer also be a Software Engineer and vice versa?
Yes, you can have a career switch between both tech jobs because they are within similar areas of software development. You can check out the skill mentioned above set to see the specific skills you need to make that switch.
