Original title: (How Blockchain Technology Can Improve DevOps Practices in Web3）
Author: John Vester
Original compilation: ChinaDeFi
Original compilation: ChinaDeFi
Although still in its early stages, Web3 has already shown the potential for blockchain and DevOps to work together. This article discusses DevOps practices, processes, tools, and how it will complement blockchain technology to deliver Web3 solutions.
DevOps is an umbrella term covering the culture, mindset, development style, process and technology of software development. DevOps aims to improve the quality of software delivery through collaboration, automation, predictable outcomes, shorter lead times, and faster customer feedback.
Blockchain is an immutable distributed ledger technology. A blockchain ledger consists of decentralized "blocks" that contain records of events, or "transactions," on the ledger network. Once a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be deleted or updated. Blockchain can be centralized or decentralized, its inherent nature is always distributed.
However, most blockchain networks are decentralized, meaning they run on nodes within the network rather than on central servers. Additionally, decentralized blockchains are permissionless, meaning anyone can access them or participate in their network.
Web3 is a hypothetical version of the next generation internet. Web2 ushered in the era of dynamic user-generated content, widespread adoption of e-commerce, and ease of use. And Web3, driven by blockchain technology, is enough to bring about a new era of decentralization by transferring the ownership of user data from large players to users themselves. Web3 organizations, such as ConsenSys, offer new tools that, when combined with common DevOps practices, promise a range of security and productivity benefits.
How DevOps and blockchain complement each other?
DevOps is a cycle of continuous improvement in the software delivery chain. Its best practices can support blockchain technology development through different stages and tools. Current DevOps tools and practices will help blockchain development using containerization, automation, and shorter development iterations.
On the other hand, blockchain technology provides a better way to deliver services and data through immutability, security, smart contracts, etc. Additionally, it can take DevOps delivery to the next level by ensuring quality and removing ambiguity.
How will DevOps practices and tools help blockchain development?
The table below shows how the different DevOps phases will work together and how it will contribute to blockchain development, testing and delivery.
How Can Blockchain Help DevOps Practices?
As an emerging technology, blockchain has moved from cryptocurrencies to the realm of applications. As the technology matures, it can enhance DevOps and the software delivery process in various ways.
Transparent Delivery of Immutable Ledgers
Applications can leverage blockchain's immutable ledger technology for more transparent and reliable delivery. Each node in the blockchain can contain the complete history of the software development process and its dependencies, increasing its credibility.
Quality Assurance for Smart Contracts
Arbitrary code of a smart contract is only executed if predetermined conditions are successfully met. Therefore, smart contracts can be used to standardize the testing and acceptance process. Additionally, this approach will help automate the regulatory compliance and approval process.
SLA with smart contracts
Software delivery can use smart contracts to encode service level agreements for consumers of the application. This removes ambiguity and disagreement over the requirements stated in the agreement. Likewise, distributed ledgers can help settle payments and secure permissions.
Security and Auditability of Immutable Ledgers
The practice of DevSecOps strives to ensure the security of software, and certified blockchains further enhance this security by validating participants in the network. Log events can be recorded in an immutable ledger so that researchers can trace back the exact point in time of a security breach.
In addition, since the blockchain-based code is immutable and all nodes have the entire transaction history, supply chain security can be maintained and verified by auditing the relevant ledgers of open source or third-party libraries.
mandatory documents
Software documentation is often non-existent, low-quality, or outdated. Multiple versions of the same document often create ambiguity. Immutable ledgers can contain signed versions of the latest documentation, and smart contracts can also be activated prior to software delivery to ensure certain documentation standards are met.
The Future of Web3 and DevOps
Web3 may create a new generation of blockchain-based tools, practices, and processes for DevOps. Examples include decentralized, distributed, secure code repositories for open source and business collaboration on a global scale. Examples of such code repositories include Radicle or Ellcrys.
Web2 applications allow to verify the content of the message, but not necessarily the sender. In blockchain technology, a security layer of trusted nodes that can verify the sender is added. Web3 will increase developer trust and security through immutable ledgers and smart contracts, enabling anyone to audit the quality and usefulness of software. Tools like Diligence can audit such smart contracts. Other tools such as Quorum Key Manager can help with confidential file and key management.
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