The article emphasizes that while serverless is a powerful and exciting architectural pattern, it’s frequently misapplied. Organizations often hope serverless will solve their software delivery problems, but it’s actually an enabler that requires strong foundational practices to realize its benefits. By Seth Orell.
Think of it as a hierarchy:
- Continuous Integration (CI): Frequent code merging, automated testing, and fast feedback.
- Continuous Delivery (CD): Automating the release process so software is ready to deploy.
- Continuous Deployment (CD): Automatically deploying changes to production.
You can’t achieve Continuous Delivery without first having Continuous Integration. Serverless architectures improve the “run” phase of the software lifecycle – things like scaling and infrastructure – but don’t inherently improve the “build” phase.
The author draws from DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) to support this point. DORA metrics demonstrate a clear correlation between high-performing teams and their mastery of these fundamentals. Teams with robust CI/CD pipelines and a culture of ownership consistently deliver better software, faster, and with fewer bugs.
Implementing CI/CD requires cultural change – convincing engineers to embrace testing, code review, and automation requires buy-in. It also demands investment in tooling and processes. Serverless isn’t a magical solution; it’s a tool that requires strategic implementation alongside well-established software delivery practices. If your team is consistently missing deadlines or struggling with quality, focus on building those foundations first. Nice one!
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