Whether to build or buy DevOps toolchains is a question that many organizations face as they try to streamline their software development and deployment processes. When deciding the right DevOps toolchain, it’s important first to understand fundamental DevOps best practices and how tools assist these practices. Then, establish a common tools strategy that allows teams to collaborate across development, testing, and deployment.
So, which option should you choose, to build or to buy? It depends on several factors, including the size of your organization, the level of customization required, and the available resources and expertise.
Let’s look into some of the pros and cons to both options!
> Advantages of building a DevOps toolchain:
Customization: Building your own toolchain means that you can customize it to your specific needs. This can include integrating tools that work best for your team, as well as building custom scripts to automate specific tasks.
Control: With a self-built toolchain, you have complete control over the process. This allows you to make changes and updates as needed, without being at the mercy of a vendor's release schedule.
Learning opportunity: Building a toolchain can be a great learning opportunity. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the DevOps process, as well as the tools and technologies involved.
> Disadvantages of building a DevOps toolchain:
Resource-intensive: Building a toolchain requires time, effort, and resources. You'll need to have developers and other team members with the skills and knowledge to build and maintain the tools.
Maintenance: Once the toolchain is built, it will require ongoing maintenance to keep it up-to-date and functioning properly. This can be a significant ongoing cost.
On the other hand:
> Advantages of buying a DevOps toolchain:
Time-saving: Purchasing a pre-built toolchain can save time and effort. It can be up and running quickly, without the need for extensive development and testing.
Expertise: Buying a toolchain from a vendor means that you'll have access to their expertise and support. This can be invaluable when it comes to troubleshooting issues or customizing the tools to meet your needs.
Cost-effective: While buying a toolchain requires an upfront investment, it can be more cost-effective in the long run. You won't need to spend as much on development and maintenance, and you'll have access to updates and new features as they're released.
> Disadvantages of buying a DevOps toolchain:
Limited customization: When you buy a toolchain, you're limited to the features and tools provided by the vendor. This can be a disadvantage if you need specific functionality that isn't available out-of-the-box.
Dependency: When you rely on a vendor for your toolchain, you're dependent on them for updates, support, and maintenance. This can be a risk if the vendor goes out of business or stops supporting the toolchain.
In conclusion
In the end, the decision to build or buy a DevOps toolchain will depend on your organization's specific needs, resources, and goals. For smaller projects and companies that are just starting their business and they need base cloud infrastructure we at the Devolut usually don't do any building of custom tools. If you're looking to get up and running quickly and want a pre-configured solution that includes support and maintenance, buying may be the better option. Pre-built toolchains can save time and resources, and they often come with ongoing support and updates.
Custom DevOps/Cloud infrastructure tools are usually needed for larger companies/larger setups where regular/existing tools can't solve some specific problem or they can't solve it at scale. If you are a larger/well-established company and you do have a set of specific issues to be solved you might be looking into hiring the Devolut team of DevOps engineers to develop those tools for you. A custom toolchain can be tailored to meet the unique needs and workflows of your organization, which can result in more efficient software development and delivery processes.
Get in touch with us hello@devolut.io and find out more about DevOps toolchain!