The Difference Between a Build and Release Engineer and a DevOps Engineer

With the rising complexity of digital infrastructures, the roles of engineers and developers have become more specialised and less interchangeable within development teams. For instance, a developer focusing on user experience (UX) may not possess expertise in security, and vice versa for a build and release engineer. What sets a DevOps engineer apart from a build and release engineer? Firstly, let’s examine the basics.

A Long Time Ago

Previously, there existed a distinct separation between designers of user interfaces and IT operations personnel in the realm of software development. While a certain equilibrium was achieved between the two, conflicts between them persisted.

Frequently, the IT department would reject requests to update applications, citing untested code as the cause for their denial. This caused challenges for the development team as accountability and responsibility were frequently shifted. It is important to note that no one party was solely responsible for this problem; the root cause was improper division of work.

In the present-day digital realm, engineering and programming experts are easily accessible to fulfil all task requirements. Nonetheless, it is crucial to have a seasoned individual who can oversee the activity, guaranteeing that all team members are in sync and effectively designing and administering software functionality in the long run.

The perfect individuals for the position you aim to fill are DevOps Engineers and Build and Release Engineers. This section offers a summary of their duties, whether you are seeking to hire or merely inquisitive.

If you are conducting a remote interview for a potential DevOps employee, we have assembled a list of the most critical questions that you should pose.

DevOps vs Build and Release Engineering: What’s the Difference?

DevOps is a methodology that assigns developers the responsibility for their code, from development through to testing and production. This obviates the need for assigning blame and offers the possibility of new organizational approaches. DevOps engineers specialize in automation, with a scope that extends beyond simple developer-operations cooperation.

Contemporary IT departments progressively adopt DevOps practices throughout all team structures and business attitudes. Build and release engineers, though not necessarily a component of DevOps, are responsible for ensuring the longevity and peak performance of both physical and digital systems. With expertise in developing software suites applicable to a variety of industries, they collaborate with DevOps, production personnel, software developers, and quality assurance specialists to install and launch applications.

Release Engineers are experts in the build and release processes and play a vital role in the DevOps team. To draw an analogy, if Quality Assurance teams, business groups, and developers are the spokes of a wheel, then Release Engineering is the hub. Much like a hub, DevOps Engineering connects the spokes and assists in maximizing productivity.

Let us delve deeper into what their responsibilities entail.

Role and Responsibilities of DevOps Engineers

DevOps professionals possess advanced skills in automating procedures to streamline the coordination and testing of code between developers. An essential aspect of their job description is fostering cross-functional cooperation and providing a highly efficient mechanism for task completion, resembling the interworking of the cogs and gears of a clock.

Role and Responsibilities

  • DevOps engineering advocates for a development-oriented method of linking the various phases of software development and creating team-wide coding norms, requiring the installation of appropriate infrastructure.
  • DevOps incorporates configuration management throughout the organization, while Release Engineers concentrate solely on software products.
  • By utilizing CI/CD, DevOps aims to expedite the automation of everyday IT operations.
  • DevOps professionals are accountable for monitoring and testing, gathering data to facilitate continuous product improvements, and guaranteeing the successful rollout of these enhancements across various departments.
  • By monitoring the end outcome, DevOps verifies if the product’s quality meets the required standards.
  • When we say “security,” we refer to the monitoring of software health and safety.

DevOps Skills and Tools

  • Adeptness in teamwork and efficient communication
  • Proficiency in problem-solving
  • Attention to Detail
  • Skills in planning and scheduling
  • Multitasking
  • Integrating the principles of Agile with the precision of DevOps.
  • Varieties of Programming Languages:
    • Git Distributed Version Control System and GitHub Hosting Service

      for Software Configuration Management (Version Control System)
    • Jenkins:

      Automation of Server-side tasks (utilising plugins for continuous integration/continuous delivery pipelines).
    • Selenium:

      Automation of Software Testing
    • Docker:

      Platform for Managing Containerized Software
    • Kubernetes:

      Platform for Managing and Coordinating Containers.
    • Puppet:

      Application and Management of Configurations.
    • Chef:

      Administration of Systems and Implementation of Changes.
    • Ansible:

      Management and Deployment of Configurations.
    • Nagios:

      Continuous Monitoring.

Responsibilities and Tasks of Build and Release Engineer

Build and Release Engineering emphasizes on the reliable and consistent deployment of software to enhance its efficiency. They focus on the implementation of software architecture and work collaboratively with other teams to identify potential issues.

Responsibilities and Tasks

  • Build and Release Engineers leverage version control repositories like Git, Subversion, and Perforce to ensure that the code is updated and frequently tracked.
  • The use of automated technologies for building and releasing software more quickly and reliably.
  • Configuration Management ensures Software Lifecycle Management by continuously monitoring the code in all development stages (testing, staging, and production).
  • To comprehend the origin of a specific code modification, it is essential to keep track of the particulars during production and rollout.

Learn, Create, and Share

  • Requirements include familiarity with databases, computer networking, and operating systems, programming skills, and experience using Linux or Unix in the development cycle.
  • Examining the source code of the software’s build architecture
  • Building additional components that enrich automation
  • Resolving automation issues
  • Thoroughly testing newly released software to locate and fix bugs.
  • Thinking rooted in analysis
  • Capability to collaborate and communicate efficiently
  • Effective communication skills
  • Time management skills
  • Change management

Build and Release Engineer vs DevOps Engineer: Who is the Right Fit for Your Project?

When building a team, it’s crucial to establish clear roles and responsibilities. The first step is to outline the necessary tasks and skills required to fill each role. Once this is determined, the next step is to identify the best candidate for each position.

A Build and Release Engineer can aid in boosting software productivity steadily and establishing software architecture in increments. On the other hand, DevOps Engineers can help synchronize IT departments and set up an automated system for code testing and development.

When recruiting developers, it’s crucial to evaluate their character and experience early on, whether the recruitment process is virtual or in-person. Assess the candidate’s potential for long-term integration with the existing team members. While finding the ideal candidate can be challenging, the effort pays off in achieving the desired outcomes.

With over a decade of experience in the field of remote recruitment, our team is confident that we can find the ideal Build and Release or DevOps engineer based on your requirements within two weeks. We’re eager to share our expertise and knowledge with you, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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