The Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is a methodology that provides a structured process for developing high-quality software in a timely and cost-effective manner. The SDLC outlines software development as a series of tasks, creating a management framework focused on efficiency and quality. Software development is a tightly interwoven process that balances costs, deadlines, and capabilities.

The core concept of developer experience (or DevEx) is simple: happy developers are more effective developers. Great developer experiences create opportunities for success, while poor DevEx leads to frustration and delays. Though the concept is easy to grasp, real-world developer experiences depend on many complex factors.

In a traditional CI/CD pipeline, the instructions for how your pipeline should run are stored in the same repository as your application code, creating a rigid 1:1 relationship between your pipeline and project code. This approach has benefits, like keeping pipeline logic close to the code it supports, but it also introduces challenges, especially for organizations managing multiple repositories or microservices.

For engineering leaders and technology decision-makers, CI/CD metrics have always been more than just operational measurements – they’re direct indicators of developer experience and team productivity. Every failed build, slow pipeline, or delayed deployment directly impacts your developers’ ability to deliver value.