This article presents DevOps in software development as a structured top list. Instead of definitions or background theory, it focuses on the main DevOps areas teams deal with in practice. Each item in the list reflects a specific part of how DevOps shows up in day to day software work, from collaboration patterns to delivery workflows. The format keeps things direct and easy to scan, without turning it into an explanation piece.
1. AppFirst
AppFirst approaches DevOps from the perspective of reducing infrastructure workload rather than expanding it. Instead of requiring teams to design and maintain cloud configurations, the platform allows developers to describe what their application needs, with the infrastructure layer handled automatically. This brings DevOps responsibility closer to the application itself and away from separate infrastructure workflows.
In practice, the AppFirst model treats DevOps as an extension of product development. Developers remain responsible for the full lifecycle of their applications, while infrastructure provisioning, default security settings, and cross-cloud concerns operate in the background. This approach suits teams that experience DevOps as a bottleneck due to lengthy reviews, custom frameworks, or gaps in cloud-specific knowledge.
Key Highlights:
- Application-first approach to infrastructure
- Automatic provisioning across major cloud providers
- Built-in logging, monitoring, and alerting
- Centralized auditing of infrastructure changes
- Cost visibility by application and environment
- SaaS and self-hosted deployment options
Who it’s best for:
- Teams without a dedicated infrastructure group
- Developers who want to avoid Terraform or YAML
- Companies standardizing infrastructure across teams
- Fast-moving product teams shipping frequently
Contact information:
- Website: www.appfirst.dev
2. Jenkins
Represent one of the more traditional DevOps building blocks, centered around automation and pipelines. Jenkins is commonly used to connect code changes with builds, tests, and deployments, acting as the glue between different parts of a software delivery process. Its role in DevOps is largely about consistency and repeatability.
Strength comes from flexibility rather than opinionated workflows. Teams can shape Jenkins into a simple CI setup or expand it into a broader delivery system using plugins. This makes it adaptable, but it also means teams are responsible for deciding how DevOps practices are implemented and maintained over time.
Key Highlights:
- Open source automation server
- Supports CI and continuous delivery workflows
- Large plugin ecosystem
- Runs on multiple operating systems
- Distributed build and execution support
Who it’s best for:
- Teams that need custom CI pipelines
- Organizations with existing toolchains
- Engineers comfortable managing automation servers
- Projects requiring flexible integration options
Contact information:
- Website: www.jenkins.io
- Twitter: x.com/jenkinsci
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jenkins-project
3. GitLab
Frame DevOps as a single, connected workflow rather than a collection of tools. GitLab combines source control, CI/CD, security checks, and deployment tracking into one platform. This approach reduces handoffs between systems and keeps DevOps activities visible in one place.
Model treats DevOps as an end-to-end process that starts with a code commit and continues through production and monitoring. By embedding security and automation directly into the workflow, they position DevOps as a shared responsibility across development, operations, and security teams.
Key Highlights:
- Unified platform for code, CI/CD, and security
- Built-in automation pipelines
- Integrated security and compliance checks
- Centralized visibility into delivery workflows
- Supports DevOps and DevSecOps practices
Who it’s best for:
- Teams wanting fewer DevOps tools to manage
- Organizations aligning development and security
- Companies standardizing delivery workflows
- Teams that prefer an all-in-one platform
Contact information:
- Website: gitlab.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/gitlab
- Twitter: x.com/gitlab
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/gitlab-com
4. Kubernetes
Treat DevOps as a way to keep applications running reliably once they are broken into containers. Kubernetes sits between development and operations by handling how containerized apps are deployed, scaled, and kept alive. Instead of teams manually managing where things run, Kubernetes makes those decisions based on rules and current conditions.
From a DevOps perspective, they focus on consistency and recovery. Applications are grouped, monitored, and adjusted automatically when something changes or fails. This shifts day to day DevOps work away from manual intervention and toward defining how systems should behave under normal and abnormal conditions.
Key Highlights:
- Orchestrates containerized applications
- Handles deployment and scaling automatically
- Built-in service discovery and load balancing
- Self-healing for failed containers and pods
- Works across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid setups
Who it’s best for:
- Teams running container-based applications
- Organizations managing multiple services
- Environments that need automated scaling
- DevOps setups focused on reliability and recovery
Contact information:
- Website: kubernetes.io
- Twitter: x.com/kubernetesio
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kubernetes
5. Azure DevOps Server
Approach DevOps as a set of connected workflows rather than a single tool. Azure DevOps Server brings code management, work tracking, testing, and pipelines into one on-premises environment. This helps teams coordinate development and operations without relying on many separate systems.
In practice, they support DevOps by keeping planning, delivery, and collaboration closely linked. Teams can track work, manage repositories, and run CI/CD pipelines in the same place. This setup fits organizations that want structured DevOps processes while keeping infrastructure under their own control.
Key Highlights:
- On-premises DevOps toolset
- Integrated work tracking and planning
- CI and CD pipelines support
- Git repository management
- Testing and artifact management tools
Who it’s best for:
- Teams needing on-prem DevOps tools
- Organizations with structured delivery processes
- Projects combining planning and CI/CD
- Enterprises standardizing internal workflows
Contact information:
- Website: azure.microsoft.com
- Twitter: x.com/azure
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/microsoft-azure
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/microsoftazure
6. Terraform
Frame DevOps around infrastructure as code. Terraform lets teams define servers, networks, and related resources in configuration files instead of manual setups. This makes infrastructure changes reviewable, repeatable, and easier to track over time.
Within DevOps workflows, they act as the layer that connects code changes to infrastructure changes. Teams can version their infrastructure the same way they version application code. This reduces drift between environments and makes infrastructure part of the normal delivery process rather than a separate task.
Key Highlights:
- Infrastructure defined as code
- Supports multiple cloud providers
- Versioned and repeatable infrastructure changes
- CLI-based workflows
- Works with both low and high-level resources
Who it’s best for:
- Teams managing cloud infrastructure
- DevOps workflows that include infra changes
- Organizations working across multiple clouds
- Engineers who want reproducible environments
Contact information:
- Website: developer.hashicorp.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HashiCorp
- Twitter: x.com/hashicorp
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/hashicorp
7. Octopus Deploy
Focus on the delivery side of DevOps, especially what happens after code is built. Instead of replacing CI tools, they sit after them and handle releases, deployments, and operational steps across different environments. This separates building software from safely getting it into production, which is often where DevOps gets complicated.
In DevOps workflows, they are used to manage repeatable deployments at scale. Teams define deployment processes once and reuse them across environments, infrastructure types, and targets. This helps reduce manual steps and keeps releases consistent as systems grow more complex.
Key Highlights:
- Release and deployment automation
- Works with Kubernetes, cloud, and on-prem setups
- Environment promotion and progression
- Central view of deployments and status
- Integrates with existing CI tools
Who it’s best for:
- Teams handling complex deployments
- Organizations separating CI from CD
- Environments with many deployment targets
- DevOps workflows focused on release control
Contact information:
- Website: octopus.com
- E-mail: sales@octopus.com
- Twitter: x.com/OctopusDeploy
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/octopus-deploy
- Address: Level 4, 199 Grey Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
- Phone: +1 512-823-0256
8. Codefresh
Approach DevOps through GitOps practices, with Git acting as the source of truth for deployments. Codefresh builds on top of Argo CD and focuses on how changes move between environments. Instead of long scripts, they rely on defined promotion rules that describe how software should progress.
From a DevOps point of view, they reduce the amount of custom pipeline logic teams need to maintain. Developers and platform teams get clearer visibility into where changes are and how they move forward. This makes DevOps workflows more predictable, especially in Kubernetes-based setups.
Key Highlights:
- GitOps-based delivery workflows
- Built around Argo CD
- Environment and release promotion
- Kubernetes-first approach
- Centralized visibility into deployments
Who it’s best for:
- Teams using GitOps practices
- Kubernetes-focused environments
- Platform teams managing promotions
- Organizations standardizing delivery flows
Contact information:
- Website: codefresh.io
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/codefresh.io
- Twitter: x.com/codefresh
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/codefresh
9. Copado
Focus on DevOps within the Salesforce ecosystem. Copado treats DevOps as a way to manage changes, testing, and releases inside Salesforce environments, where dependencies can be hard to track. Their tools are designed to fit directly into Salesforce workflows rather than sitting outside of them.
In practice, they help teams move Salesforce changes through planning, development, testing, and deployment with fewer manual steps. DevOps here is less about servers and more about managing configuration, data, and application logic safely across multiple orgs.
Key Highlights:
- Salesforce-focused DevOps automation
- Native CI and CD for Salesforce
- Dependency and change tracking
- Integrated testing workflows
- Release management inside Salesforce
Who it’s best for:
- Salesforce development teams
- Organizations with multiple Salesforce orgs
- Teams needing controlled releases
- DevOps workflows centered on SaaS platforms
Contact information:
- Website: www.copado.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CopadoSolutions
- Twitter: x.com/CopadoSolutions
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/copadosolutions
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/copadosolutions
- Address: 330 N. Wabash Ave., Fl 23, Chicago IL 60611 United States
- Phone: + 18772672360
10. GitHub
Sit at the center of many DevOps workflows by acting as the shared place where code, discussions, and automation meet. In practice, GitHub is less about running infrastructure and more about how teams collaborate around change. Source control, pull requests, and reviews create a clear flow from idea to implementation, which is a core part of DevOps culture.
From a DevOps perspective, they support automation and shared ownership. CI workflows, security checks, and dependency updates happen close to the code, making problems visible early. This helps teams reduce handoffs and keep development and operations aligned without introducing heavy process.
Key Highlights:
- Git-based source control
- Pull requests and code reviews
- Built-in CI workflows
- Dependency and secret scanning
- Collaboration tied directly to code
Who it’s best for:
- Teams practicing collaborative development
- DevOps workflows centered on Git
- Projects needing traceable code changes
- Organizations encouraging shared ownership
Contact information:
- Website: github.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/GitHub
- Twitter: x.com/github
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/github
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/github
11. Bitbucket
Approach DevOps through tight integration between code and planning. Bitbucket connects source control with CI pipelines and work tracking, which helps teams keep delivery work structured. DevOps here is about linking commits, builds, and issues so nothing happens in isolation.
In real workflows, they are often used where teams want stronger governance around code changes. Merge checks, permissions, and pipeline controls help reduce risky changes while still supporting automation. This makes DevOps feel more controlled and predictable, especially in larger teams.
Key Highlights:
- Git repositories with access controls
- Integrated CI pipelines
- Merge checks and policy enforcement
- Native connection to planning tools
- Extensible integrations
Who it’s best for:
- Teams using structured delivery processes
- Organizations needing governance around code
- DevOps setups tied to issue tracking
- Groups standardizing CI across projects
Contact information:
- Website: bitbucket.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Atlassian
- Twitter: x.com/bitbucket
12. CloudBees
Frame DevOps as a system of flow rather than a single tool. Drawing from manufacturing ideas, their perspective focuses on reducing friction, automating repeatable work, and keeping software moving through the pipeline. DevOps here is about improving how work moves from development to production, not just speeding things up.
In practical terms, they emphasize automation, shared responsibility, and continuous feedback. Build, test, and release steps are treated as part of one process, with visibility across teams. This view highlights DevOps as a cultural and operational shift, supported by tools but driven by how people work together.
Key Highlights:
- Focus on CI and CD workflows
- Automation across build and release stages
- Emphasis on flow and reduced handoffs
- Visibility across the delivery pipeline
- DevOps as a cultural practice
Who it’s best for:
- Teams adopting CI and CD practices
- Organizations modernizing delivery workflows
- DevOps initiatives focused on automation
- Groups aligning development and operations
Contact information:
- Website: www.cloudbees.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CloudBees
- Twitter: x.com/cloudbees
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cloudbees
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cloudbees_inc
- Address: Faubourg de l’Hôpital 18 CH-2000 Neuchâtel Switzerland
13. Devtron
Work at the point where DevOps meets day to day Kubernetes operations. Devtron brings application delivery, infrastructure handling, and operational workflows into a single control layer for teams running production Kubernetes. Instead of stitching together many tools, they focus on standardizing how apps move through environments and how clusters are managed.
From a DevOps angle, they reduce manual work around deployments, approvals, and troubleshooting. Teams define repeatable workflows for CI, CD, and GitOps, while visibility into clusters, resources, and failures stays centralized. This makes DevOps less about reacting to issues and more about keeping systems predictable.
Key Highlights:
- Kubernetes-focused CI and CD workflows
- Centralized app and cluster management
- Multi-environment deployment orchestration
- Built-in approval and policy controls
- Integrated observability and troubleshooting
Who it’s best for:
- Teams running production Kubernetes
- Organizations standardizing DevOps workflows
- Platforms managing multiple clusters
- DevOps setups needing tighter operational control
Contact information:
- Website: devtron.ai
- Twitter: x.com/DevtronL/status/1941136958987600008
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/devtron-labs
14. Prometheus
Represent the monitoring side of DevOps, where visibility matters more than automation alone. Prometheus collects and stores metrics from systems and applications, giving teams a shared view of how software behaves in real time. This data becomes the common reference point for developers and operators.
In DevOps workflows, they are often used to detect issues early and support informed decisions. Metrics and alerts help teams understand performance trends, spot failures, and respond before problems grow. Monitoring here is not an afterthought, but part of how DevOps teams learn and adjust continuously.
Key Highlights:
- Time series metrics collection
- Flexible querying with PromQL
- Alerting based on real system behavior
- Native support for cloud and containers
- Large ecosystem of integrations
Who it’s best for:
- DevOps teams needing system visibility
- Cloud-native and Kubernetes environments
- Organizations building monitoring into workflows
- Teams relying on metrics for incident response
Contact information:
- Website: prometheus.io
15. Puppet
Puppet focus on infrastructure automation and consistency, which is a core pillar of DevOps. Puppet lets teams describe how systems should look and keeps them in that state over time. This shifts DevOps work away from manual fixes toward controlled, repeatable changes.
In practice, they support DevOps by enforcing standards across servers, clouds, and networks. Configuration, security policies, and changes are tracked and applied automatically. This helps teams reduce drift between environments and makes infrastructure part of the same lifecycle as application code.
Key Highlights:
- Desired state configuration management
- Automated infrastructure enforcement
- Policy and compliance controls
- Works across hybrid environments
- Change tracking and audit support
Who it’s best for:
- Teams managing large infrastructure fleets
- Organizations needing configuration consistency
- DevOps workflows tied to compliance
- Environments with mixed cloud and on-prem systems
Contact information:
- Website: www.puppet.com
- E-mail: sales-request@perforce.com
- Address: 400 First Avenue North #400 Minneapolis, MN 55401
- Phone: +1 612.517.2100
16. Chef
Approach DevOps through infrastructure automation and consistency. Chef focuses on defining how systems should be configured and making sure they stay that way over time. Instead of fixing issues by hand, teams describe the desired state and let automation handle the rest. This turns infrastructure work into something predictable rather than reactive.
In DevOps workflows, they are usually used to manage configuration, compliance, and operational tasks across many environments. Automation is applied not only to setup but also to audits and routine operations. This helps teams reduce drift, avoid manual errors, and keep development and operations aligned around shared rules.
Key Highlights:
- Desired state configuration management
- Policy-based automation
- Infrastructure compliance checks
- Workflow orchestration across tools
- Works across cloud and on-prem setups
Who it’s best for:
- Teams managing large infrastructure environments
- Organizations needing consistent configurations
- DevOps workflows tied to compliance
- Operations teams reducing manual changes
Contact information:
- Website: www.chef.io
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/getchefdotcom
- Twitter: x.com/chef
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/chef-software
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/chef_software
17. CircleCI
CircleCI focuses on the automation side of DevOps, specifically continuous integration and delivery. CircleCI connects code changes to automated builds, tests, and deployments, so teams can catch problems early. The goal is to make testing and delivery routine instead of stressful or manual.
From a DevOps point of view, they help teams keep feedback loops short. Developers get fast signals when something breaks, and pipelines run without needing much hands-on work. This supports DevOps practices by keeping code, testing, and delivery closely linked.
Key Highlights:
- Automated CI and CD pipelines
- Supports many languages and runtimes
- Pipeline configuration as code
- Parallel and repeatable workflows
- Integrates with common version control tools
Who it’s best for:
- Teams practicing continuous integration
- Projects needing automated testing
- DevOps setups focused on fast feedback
- Developers who want minimal pipeline overhead
Contact information:
- Website: circleci.com
- Twitter: x.com/circleci
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/circleci
Conclusion
DevOps in software is not a single tool, role, or checklist you adopt and move on from. It is a way of working that shows up across planning, coding, testing, releasing, and running systems in the real world. What ties it all together is the focus on reducing friction – between teams, between ideas and execution, and between change and stability.
As the tools in this article show, DevOps can look different depending on where a team feels the most pain. For some, it is about automating builds and tests. For others, it is about managing infrastructure safely or keeping systems visible and predictable in production. The common thread is shared responsibility and steady improvement, not speed for its own sake. When DevOps works well, software delivery feels calmer, more reliable, and easier to reason about, even as systems grow more complex.
