IBM Ramps Up DevOps Power

IBM has pushed its DevOps developer-operations proposition one square forward this week with the acquisition of UrbanCode, a specialist in automated software application delivery. This move is intended to accelerate IBM's SmartCloud and Mobile First initiatives.

Big Blue says that it will provide a "complete software" delivery process from the business planning stage and requirements, to programming and development, testing, delivery, through to monitoring and user feedback.

UrbanCode's technology is designed to reduce the "cycle time" it takes to get updates or new applications from "months to minutes" says the firm. This approach is designed to help developers rapidly incorporate feedback into apps and (in theory) also improve the overall quality of service.

The developer proposition here is: Combine UrbanCode software with IBM Worklight technology and you can author and deploy an application for any mobile device within hours.

NOTE: The UrbanCode solution also works with traditional applications including middleware, databases, and business intelligence.

"Companies that master effective software development and delivery in rapidly changing environments such as cloud, mobile, and social will have a significant competitive advantage," said Kristof Kloeckner, general manager, IBM Rational Software. "With the acquisition of UrbanCode, IBM is uniquely positioned to help businesses from every industry accelerate delivery of their products and services to better meet client demands."

Together UrbanCode and IBM technology will be unmatched in the industry, providing businesses a continuous process for developing, testing, and delivering new and updated software," said Maciej Zawadzki, chief executive officer, UrbanCode. "By removing the bottlenecks that traditionally exist between development teams and production systems, businesses can drive rapid innovation."

A recent study by the IBM Institute for Business Value uncovered that almost 70 percent of companies using software development for competitive advantage outperform their peers in profitability. More than half of surveyed companies agree effective software development is crucial to competitive advantage. Yet, only a quarter of companies feel they have effective methods.