Software development lifecycle
The software development lifecycle encompasses every step from the initial idea and requirements, to live applications and beyond. Learn about the latest ALM and CI/CD tools for the SDLC, as well as top methodologies and processes in use.
Top Stories
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Tip
27 Jun 2025
12 DevSecOps tools to secure each step of the SDLC
DevSecOps tools integrate security throughout development. These 12 options enhance workflows from coding to deployment without slowing teams down. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jun 2025
10 refactoring best practices: When and how to refactor code
Developers only have so much time available. Here's how to prioritize code refactoring to get the most value from the amount of effort expended. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Jun 2025
How to choose coding standards: Development best practices
Learn how coding standards enhance quality and efficiency in software projects. Follow coding conventions and standards to achieve the five pillars of code quality. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jun 2025
Refactor vs. rewrite: Deciding how to fix problem software
At some point, all developers must decide whether to refactor code or rewrite it. Base this choice on factors such as architectural soundness, time, money and goals. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 May 2025
11 tools that facilitate developer productivity
Development teams have a better experience when they use tools that integrate well together and facilitate collaboration. Continue Reading
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Video
21 May 2025
The Scrum framework or Agile software development?
How do you choose between Agile and Scrum? You don't. Here's why. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 May 2025
Agile vs. Scrum: What's the difference?
Don't fret about the differences between Agile and Scrum? It's actually their similarities that make them interesting. Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2025
New GitHub Copilot agent edges into DevOps
The GitHub Copilot coding agent can take on toilsome tasks such as bug fixes and code reviews with its own GitHub Actions pull requests. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 May 2025
Verification vs. validation in software testing
Verification and validation are at the heart of all software testing efforts. Together, they check that software fulfills both user expectations and technical requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 May 2025
Iterative vs. incremental development: What's the difference?
Iterative and incremental development refine software differently: one focuses on early feedback, one on complete components. Together, they balance flexibility and stability. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Apr 2025
Agile vs. Waterfall: What's the difference?
Is change good or bad? The manner in which you embrace change might influence whether you prefer Waterfall or Agile methodologies. Here we compare the two approaches. Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2025
JetBrains, GitHub add coding agents to IDEs
Coding agents that can take on whole tasks with a natural language prompt are now tied in with widely used IDEs, including a JetBrains free tier. Continue Reading
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Video
16 Apr 2025
Agile software development or the Waterfall framework?
Ever wonder if you've chosen the right software development strategy? Here we explain when Waterfall is right, and when an Agile approach makes more sense. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Mar 2025
Understanding code smells and how refactoring can help
It works, but does it pass the sniff test? Code smells can be the canary in the coal mine for poor coding, which calls for refactoring. Explore how to identify and deodorize code smells. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2025
How to fix software bugs: Guide and best practices
'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' -- Benjamin Franklin, 1736. The original quote pertained to fire safety, but it still applies to software bug prevention today. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2025
Users eye LaunchDarkly experiments boost with Houseware buy
LaunchDarkly customers envision fresh opportunities for app development and business alignment with a new data warehouse option on the back end. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2025
Optimize code using binary notation
Code optimization can be more creative than compilers and instruction-level parallelism. Here are specific ways to optimize code using hardware resources with high-level languages. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Feb 2025
What is application lifecycle management?
Application lifecycle management (ALM) is the process of managing a software lifecycle from creation to its end of life. Continue Reading
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Video
05 Feb 2025
How to run Jenkins in a Docker container
Jenkins is arguably the world's most popular open source CI/CD tool. Docker is the most popular containerization technology. Here's how to bring the two together. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jan 2025
What is the spiral model and how is it used?
The spiral model is a systems development lifecycle (SDLC) method used for risk management that combines the iterative development process model with elements of the Waterfall model. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2025
Tech industry experts digest cybersecurity executive order
IT pros assess a last-minute cybersecurity executive order with new directives on a broad swath of topics, from cybercriminal sanctions to AI and identity management. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Nov 2024
What is a software requirements specification (SRS)?
A software requirements specification (SRS) is a comprehensive description of the intended purpose and environment for software under development. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2024
Top 10 Jenkins alternatives
Tired of the overhead of hosting your own Jenkins installation and looking for some alternatives? Here are 10 of the best. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Nov 2024
What is a Waterfall model? Definition and guide
The Waterfall model is a linear, sequential approach to the software development lifecycle (SDLC) that is popular in software engineering and product development. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2024
Continuous delivery vs. continuous deployment: Which to choose?
Continuous delivery and continuous deployment both compress and de-risk the final stages of production rollout. Learn how to choose the proper path for your organization. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Oct 2024
What is Jira?
Jira is an application lifecycle management (ALM) and Agile project management tool from Atlassian. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Oct 2024
What is an application?
An application, also referred to as an application program or application software, is a computer software package that performs a specific function directly for an end user or, in some cases, for another application. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2024
A guide to network lifecycle management
Network pros should use a network lifecycle management process to monitor, manage and implement changes in their network, regardless of if they use PPIDOO or another framework. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Oct 2024
What is a functional specification document?
A functional specification is a formal document used to describe a product's intended capabilities, appearance and interactions with users in detail for software developers. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Sep 2024
What is Jenkins and how does it work?
Jenkins is an open source continuous integration/continuous delivery and deployment (CI/CD) automation software DevOps tool written in the Java programming language. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Sep 2024
What is a PERT chart? And how to use it, with examples
A PERT chart, sometimes called a PERT diagram, is a project management tool used to schedule, organize and coordinate tasks in a project. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Sep 2024
What are the types of requirements in software engineering?
Requirements fall into three categories: business, user and software. See examples of each one, as well as what constitutes functional and nonfunctional software requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Aug 2024
How to weigh the benefits and challenges of CI/CD
Many organizations begin their DevOps journey with a continuous integration and delivery pipeline. Before getting started, understand some fundamental benefits of CI/CD. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Aug 2024
What is the software development lifecycle (SDLC)?
The software development lifecycle (SDLC) is a project management framework that describes the stages and tasks involved in each step of software development. Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2024
Endor Labs ships Java 'Magic Patches' with SCA tools
Upgrade impact analysis and backported fixes will help one enterprise customer make a major Java upgrade manageable and keep compliant with FedRAMP. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Aug 2024
12 CI/CD best practices for DevOps teams
Building and maintaining a CI/CD pipeline requires more than just chains of automation. Adopt these CI/CD approaches to maximize your development and deployment efforts. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Aug 2024
Epics, features and user stories explained
Epics, features and user stories are all uniquely important work products in Agile product management. Learn the difference between them and how they work together to create value. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jul 2024
What is continuous integration (CI)?
Continuous integration (CI) is a software development practice in which frequent and incremental changes are routinely added (integrated) to the complete codebase immediately after the changes and additions are tested and validated. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 May 2024
Waterfall vs. Agile methodology: Differences and examples
Teams have a choice in the way they approach a new dev project. Learn about two main schools of thought -- Agile and Waterfall -- and why Agile is the prevailing methodology today. Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2024
Microsoft Visual Studio, Azure updates target AI developers
Microsoft updates this week aim to address the struggles of early enterprise generative AI adopters that have stalled efforts to put pilot projects into real-world production. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 May 2024
How to create an engaging README file
Every developer must learn the art of creating a README file to explain critical information about their software projects to internal stakeholders and customers. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2024
Red Hat CTO, Nvidia AI exec reveal joint LLMOps roadmap
The company leaders discussed deepening integration between OpenShift AI and Nvidia NIMs, how they fit into RHEL AI and what's surprised them about AI growth so far. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Apr 2024
integrated development environment (IDE)
An integrated development environment (IDE) is a software suite that consolidates basic tools required to write and test software. Continue Reading
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Video
26 Apr 2024
MVP vs. prototype: What's the difference?
While some people mistakenly use the terms MVP and prototype interchangeably, there are key differences between a minimum viable product and a prototype for your product. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Apr 2024
The 7 stages of the SDLC explained
The development process can be broken into seven distinct phases that transform high-level plans into production-ready software. Learn how to approach each phase of the SDLC. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Apr 2024
Learn the phases of feature-driven development
Learn how development teams can use the five phases of feature-driven development to put Agile principles into practice by structuring projects around app functionality. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Apr 2024
5 code refactoring patterns, with examples
First-time finished code is rarely elegant or maintainable. Refactoring helps keep a growing codebase maintainable and extendable over time -- as long as you know where to stop. Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2024
New Google Gemini AI tie-ins dig into local codebases
Google ties in its latest Gemini AI model with company-specific data in a new code assistant and Vertex AI updates that also anticipate a coming wave of AI agent development. Continue Reading
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Video
08 Apr 2024
Learn Jenkins: Tutorial for beginners
Jenkins is a popular open source CI/CD tool, and it's not hard to learn either. Learn to build your own CI/CD pipelines with this full Jenkins tutorial for beginners. Continue Reading
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Video
02 Apr 2024
Undo and revert pushed Git commits
If you want to undo a git push, you have one of two options: revert or reset. It's safest to revert a pushed commit, but a reset is only to permanently delete a pushed commit. Continue Reading
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Video
01 Apr 2024
How to use Git's 'set upstream push' command
Need to fix the 'no upstream branch' error message? Then you need to run the 'git set upstream push' command. Here's how. Continue Reading
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Video
28 Mar 2024
Simple git stash example
The 'git stash' command is a powerful tool, but few developers know how to use it. Here's an example of how to create a Git stash and pop it back later. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Mar 2024
Summit speakers break down new era of developing software
Top thought leaders discuss their strategies to choose the right software development process and to best utilize AI and ML in this comprehensive BrightTALK summit. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Mar 2024
Applying Kanban principles to software development
Kanban was conceptualized in manufacturing and later adopted by software development teams, alongside other methodologies, such as Lean and Scrum. Learn to apply Kanban principles. Continue Reading
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Video
12 Mar 2024
Learn how to use GitLab tutorial for beginners
GitLab is a complete CI/CD platform. But to really understand GitLab, you must also understand its namesake Git. This Git and GitLab tutorial will get you up to speed on both. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Mar 2024
Understanding code linting techniques and tools
Linting is an important preliminary step in the debugging process. Learn how fixing simple errors early on makes code easier to work with and improves coding practices. Continue Reading
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Video
23 Feb 2024
Top 10 differences between GitHub and Git
Enterprise development teams need to know these major differences between Git and GitHub, but also how they serve different purposes and be used together effectively. Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2024
Dapr brings microservices principles to platform engineering
With microservices now mainstream -- and past the trough of disillusionment -- a framework developed for them appeals to platform engineers with shared services consistency. Continue Reading
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Video
08 Feb 2024
How to set a Git username and password in Git config
There's a way to stop Git from repeatedly asking you for a username and password. Just set your username and password in Git config. Continue Reading
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Video
07 Feb 2024
Git vs. GitHub: What's the difference?
Git and GitHub involve similar technology but are different in several important ways. Here's what you need to understand to get the most out of these key developer tools. Continue Reading
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Video
05 Feb 2024
Full Git and GitHub tutorial for beginners
Git is the most popular version control tool on the market, and GitHub is the most popular Git hosting service. This Git and GitHub course shows you how to use them together. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Jan 2024
polyglot programming
Polyglot programming is the practice of writing code in multiple languages to capture additional functionality and efficiency not available in a single language. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jan 2024
Create an open source security policy for your organization
Using open source software raises concerns about security and intellectual property. Here's how to make sound decisions and avoid situations you'll regret. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2023
6 green coding best practices and how to get started
Software developers can support sustainability efforts via a range of green coding tactics. These best practices range from shrinking artifacts to maximizing efficiency. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2023
Best practices for automated end-to-end testing
Advanced end-to-end testing can save a company time and money, but it isn't easy to implement. Let's look at some of the important elements of test design. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2023
Docker Scout GA leads 'local plus cloud' push
Docker Scout replaces open source Docker Scan with an event-driven vulnerability management system in a bid to boost the vendor's value beyond developers' local laptops. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Aug 2023
How to roll back Git code to a previous commit
Git reset and git revert can be lifesavers for developers. Follow these examples to see which command makes the most sense when mistakes arise during development. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2023
How AI changes quality assurance in tech
AI and automation have become more commonplace across business processes. In the tech industry, for example, the use of both can enhance quality assurance. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2023
United Airlines clears CI/CD pipelines for takeoff
In an industry heavily affected by pandemic disruptions, United Airlines brought in a new orchestration tool to navigate fluctuating software delivery requirements. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Jun 2023
requirements analysis (requirements engineering)
Requirements analysis (requirements engineering) is the process of determining user expectations for a new or modified product. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Google teases generative AI expansion within its own cloud
Google's new generative AI features, including a coding assistant, were tied closely to GCP in preview demos this week, while industry experts said its LLM still lags rivals. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2023
Citing data privacy, GitLab syncs with Google generative AI
GitLab's deal with Google lets it keep sensitive customer data in the GitLab cloud while training models, amid enterprise concerns about generative AI licensing and security risks. Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
Docker Free Team concerns linger after mea culpa
Docker apologized for a 'terrible job' sharing its plan to deprecate a Free Team subscription, but some observers remain worried about security implications from the transition. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Mar 2023
end-to-end testing
End-to-end (E2E) testing is a software testing methodology that verifies the working order of a software product in a start-to-finish process. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Mar 2023
performance testing
Performance testing is a testing measure that evaluates the speed, responsiveness and stability of a computer, network, software program or device under a workload. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Feb 2023
perpetual software license
A perpetual software license is a type of software license that authorizes an individual to use a program indefinitely. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jan 2023
fail fast
Fail fast is a philosophy that values extensive testing and incremental development to determine whether an idea has value. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Dec 2022
Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD)
Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) is a scalable Agile software delivery framework. It takes a people-first, learning-oriented approach to software development and delivery. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2022
Salesforce DevOps Center ships to rein in low-code apps
Salesforce DevOps Center rolled out with features meant to bring low-code and pro-code custom apps on its CRM platform up to date with current software development practices. Continue Reading
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News
08 Dec 2022
GitOps hits stride as CNCF graduates Flux CD and Argo CD
Flux and Argo CD earned graduated status within CNCF after a year in which platform engineering adoption and DevOps advances put both in the enterprise spotlight. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Dec 2022
How to compare acceptance criteria vs. definition of done
Acceptance criteria and the definition of done both measure quality in product development, but the ways teams calculate and achieve these features vary dramatically. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2022
rapid mobile app development (RMAD)
Rapid mobile application development (RMAD) uses low-code/no-code programming tools to expedite the application creation process for mobile platforms. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Nov 2022
user story
A user story is a tool in Agile software development used to capture a description of a software feature from a user's perspective. The user story describes the type of user, what they want and why. A user story helps to create a simplified description of a requirement. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Nov 2022
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) is a nonregulatory government agency located in Gaithersburg, Md. Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
Google Software Delivery Shield braces supply chain security
Software Delivery Shield reduces security risks across the development pipeline -- but it also increases developer productivity, according to industry experts. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Oct 2022
Explore the benefits of Docker for testers, QA teams
From simplified test setup to enhanced isolation, Docker containers offer a range of advantages to QA engineers. Containers also encourage earlier, and more frequent, testing. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Climate LLC taps feature flags for mobile app development
Feature flags facilitated fast rollbacks and trunk-based mobile development for a digital farming software maker amid volatility due to business growth and climate change. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Environments as a service tackle development bottlenecks
Environments as a service are gaining traction as a tool to reduce delays, manage environments and improve developer productivity, according to industry analysts. Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2022
CodeSee brings code mapping tool to enterprise developers
CodeSee, which maps code for the entire development pipeline, fills a market need for simplification in the face of growing complexity, according to one analyst. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Aug 2022
canary testing
In software testing, canary testing refers to testing a new software version or a new feature with real users in a live (production) environment. Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2022
PyPI phishing renews call for mandatory 2FA, package signing
Some developers view compulsory 2FA and package signing as a threat to productivity, but industry experts say such requirements are inevitable amid ongoing cyberattacks. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Aug 2022
deprecated
In information technology (IT), deprecation means that although something is available or allowed, it is not recommended or that -- in the case where something must be used -- to say it is deprecated means that its failings are recognized. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Aug 2022
7 essential GitHub features for dev, project management
When teams use GitHub, they want features that simplify project management and enable more control. Here are seven features to tinker with during application development. Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2022
GitHub launches Projects, ratcheting up dev ecosystem battle
GitHub Projects brings new features to GitHub developers, but users of other application lifecycle management tools such as Jira are unlikely to make the switch. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2022
CircleCI vs. GitHub Actions: CI/CD platform comparison
Learn the differing features, commands and perks that make CircleCI and GitHub Actions distinct CI/CD platforms. Then, decide which offering meets your team's needs. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Jun 2022
SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method)
SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method) is a widely used computer application development method in the United Kingdom, where its use is often specified as a requirement for government computing projects. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jun 2022
6 key phases of the software testing lifecycle
For QA teams, a successful software testing process starts long before the actual test occurs. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Jun 2022
Identify and fix broken builds with CI/CD pipelines
Experiencing broken builds in your CI/CD pipeline? These best practices related to credentials, flaky tests and alerts can boost productivity and confidence. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 May 2022
Implement reliability testing methods, tools for better dev
Reliability testing can play an integral role in software development. Here are some methods and tools to incorporate into your app development lifecycle. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Apr 2022
Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a methodology used to develop and refine an organization's software development process. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2022
Docker drops Desktop roadmap hints after cash infusion
The roadmap for Docker Desktop will include security updates and serverless support, as industry watchers speculate about potential acquisition interest from Atlassian. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Mar 2022
What is user acceptance testing (UAT)?
User acceptance testing (UAT), also called application testing or end-user testing, is a phase of software development in which the software is tested in the real world by its intended audience. Continue Reading