A survey of DevOps concepts and challenges

Investigating the Challenges of DevOps

Despite the wide adoption and irreversible impact of the DevOps movement on Information Technology organizations, the concepts and definitions surrounding it often diverge between the academic community and industry.

In this paper — widely referenced and well regarded in the Software Engineering literature (700+ citations) — we carried out an investigation that aligns scientific rigor with everyday practice. We conducted an extensive review of the scientific literature (survey), cross-referenced with real perspectives from engineers, managers, and specialists working in the software industry.

Key Findings

• The Lack of a Single Taxonomy: Although multiple definitions exist, there is consensus around converging pillars, enabling the proposal of a unified conceptual model.
• Social and Cultural Barriers: The transition and the breaking of departmental silos between teams form the obstacle most underestimated by companies, often surpassing technological gaps.
• Architectural Complexity: The considerable challenges posed by legacy architectures in the face of the fluid needs of automated testing and Continuous Integration/Delivery (CI/CD).

"Successful DevOps adoption transcends the mere implementation of a tool pipeline; it demands a deep, organic transformation across the entire company's value stream."