Meta Leadership Primer: Automated Website Deployment

Up until now, many companies who build apps continue to simply rely on manual processes. While this as a good option in the past, companies just can’t rely on manual processes anymore. The reality is that there is always the human error facet making an app more prone to errors. However, these aren’t the only disadvantages.

In case you have been building apps in the last few years using manual processes, you probably already noticed that they simply take too long to be built. While this wasn’t a problem 3 or 5 years ago, the business world now demands that you need to be faster. If you’re not able to keep up, you can be sure that your competitors will and you’ll lose the train for profitability. So, what’s the solution?

Using Automated Website Deployment

As you decide to move from a manual process to an automated process to build your applications, you need to understand that you can take different approaches. These include:

#1: Deployment With CI Systems:
When you are looking to start using automated website deployment, you should consider deployment with CI systems.
This automated process includes the integration of servers such as Jenkins. However, you should notice that the deployment with CI systems is not an approach in itself. In fact, it is seen and used as an extension of the scripting approach.

#2: Scripting:
One of the best approaches that you can adopt when you are trying to implement automated website deployment is the use of scripts. After all, you have probably already seen (and used) many different scripts that allow an app to respond automatically in a specific context and on specific environments.
While scripting tends to be seen as one of the main automated website deployment approaches, the reality is that they need regular maintenance. After all, just one simple change can affect it making the script break. Ultimately, the deployment will fail.

#3: Model-Driven Deployment:
When you are looking for the last generation of automated website deployment tools, then you need a model-driven deployment.
The reality is that when you opt for this automated website deployment approach, you will be able to use different servers and software components to run a more complex software system. In return, you will have the ability to see what is actually happening within your company. After all, this automated website deployment solution allows you to audit and track all the deployments that have been made and that are being made within your company.

#4: Simple Deployment Tools:
While you may want to move from manual processes to automated processes when building your apps, you may not want to take a step that is bigger than your legs. So, instead of opting for a model-driven deployment, you may choose to use simple deployment tools.
These basic deployment tools allow you to deploy apps automatically without writing and maintaining scripts.
This automated website deployment approach includes a con: it can only be used for simple apps that don’t include multi-component or multi-step installations.

#5: Continuous Deployment:
This is the most extreme automated website deployment approach and we don’t advise moving from a manual approach to this approach immediately. We believe that this change should only be made when you have IT professionals that are clearly on top of automated website deployment approaches. After all, any changes that you make in the development stage will be immediately tested and deployed to production.
But why should you make the change? Why should you bother moving from manual processes to automatic processes when you are building your applications? Find out more “Next Practices” in Meta Leadership
Visit Michael Stattelman  for even more….

Main Benefits Of Automated Website Deployment

#1: Save Time:
When you are using a manual process to develop and build your apps, you need to be constantly updating. The reality is that even if you use scripts for certain situations, these also need to have a regular checkup.
But let’s talk about developing the app for the first time. When you’re at the developing stage, you know that doing things manually can take a lot of time. After all, you need to follow specific steps in exact order. So, when you miss one step, you have got to start the process all over again.

On the other hand, when you are using automated website deployment, you will only need to define things at once and your app will continue to work as on the first day.
While you may think this isn’t a great advantage, you are missing a key point — things are changing all the time and at a faster pace than ever. You just can’t keep wasting time updating scripts and manual checking all the processes. Even if you do, human errors are likely to occur.
So, when it is time for deploying, your IT team only need to press a button and wait a couple of minutes for the process to be complete.

#2: Improve Accuracy:
As we already mentioned above, manual website deployment is subjected to human errors. The reality is that it includes a lot of different steps that need to be done in a precise order. So, when the IT person responsible misses just one step, the problem may only be detected at a very late stage which turns everything more complicated. You won’t have any idea about what the problem is, what is causing it, and where it is coming from.
However, when you are using automated website deployment, this won’t happen.

#3: Everyone Can Do It:
While automated website deployment may seem confusing and daunting when taken at a glance for the first time, the reality is that everyone can do it.
When you are using a manual deployment process, you need to ensure that your IT team is well aware of all the steps they need to take and that they execute them meticulously to prevent future problems. Let’s say that you need a new server and that you added to the other ones you already have. Your team can’t forget to deploy it as well. As you can easily see, it is kind of easy to lose track of all that you need to do and the order that you need to follow. While you can keep a document where you specify all the single steps with detailed instructions, you may not even remember that you have it in the first place and you may also not be accurate enough when you are writing.

On the other hand, when you are using automated website deployment, the language is pretty simple and straightforward. All you need is a deployment training and you are all set not only to understand but also to change the process if needed.


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