DevOps services and CI/CD pipelines
DevOps is a way of working that brings software development and operations closer together, so you can release more often and with fewer mistakes. In practice, our DevOps services set up a CI/CD pipeline (continuous integration and continuous deployment): every time the code changes, tests and checks run automatically, and the approved version goes live without manual handling. We work with SMEs, startups and public bodies, from Bastia, Corsica, and remotely.
DevOps, continuous integration and CI/CD in plain terms
In many organisations, putting a new version of a website or application online is still a manual job: someone copies files to the server, runs a few commands and checks that everything works. That approach works, until the day a step is forgotten. DevOps replaces these manual steps with automated procedures, written once, tested and repeatable.
- 01
Continuous integration (CI)
Every change a developer submits is automatically built and put through a series of tests. If a test fails, the change is blocked before it reaches your users.
- 02
Continuous deployment (CD)
Once approved, the new version is deployed automatically, or with a single click, first to a test environment and then to production, meaning the website or application your customers actually use.
- 03
Containers
A container, for example with Docker, is a standardised box holding the application and everything it needs. It behaves the same way on the developer's machine, on the test server and in production.
- 04
Monitoring
Automated checks confirm that the application responds correctly after each deployment and raise an alert if something looks wrong.
Signs it is time to automate your deployments
- 01
Releases are dreaded
They are postponed, bundled together, done late in the evening, and each one brings its share of surprises.
- 02
Fixed bugs come back
Without automated tests, one fix can break something else without anyone noticing before your customers do.
- 03
Only one person knows how to deploy
The procedure is not written down anywhere. If that person is away or leaves, nobody dares touch the server.
- 04
Several developers or suppliers are involved
Each has their own habits and tools. A shared pipeline applies the same checks to everyone.
- 05
You need to be accountable
For a public body or a business handling sensitive data, knowing who released what, and when, becomes a requirement.
DevOps sized for SMEs, startups and public bodies
DevOps is not just for big tech companies. The pipeline scales with the project: a handful of tests and an automated deployment for a company website; several environments, security checks and manual approvals for a business platform.
We work with startups that release often and want to keep that pace as they grow, SMEs evolving business software or an online shop, and public bodies that need traceability. In Corsica, where many businesses run to the rhythm of the season, being able to fix a problem at the height of the busy period without risking everything has very real value.
Setting up a CI/CD pipeline, step by step
- 01
Review
We look at your code, your existing tests, your hosting and how releases happen today. We pinpoint manual steps, risks and quick wins.
- 02
Pipeline design
Together we decide which checks to automate, which environments are needed and how to manage secrets, meaning the passwords and access keys that must be stored separately and never in the code.
- 03
Gradual roll-out
We start with continuous integration, then automated deployment to a test environment, and finally production, with a rollback procedure that takes you back to the previous version if anything goes wrong.
- 04
Handover
We document the pipeline, explain how it works to your developers or supplier, and remain available to fine-tune it.
What you get: CI/CD pipeline, environments and documentation
At the end of the engagement, you have a CI/CD pipeline, the automated sequence of steps that takes a code change all the way to production, configured in the tool best suited to your project, GitHub Actions for example. Alongside it come Docker images of your applications, test and production environments, the rollback procedure, failure notifications and documentation that allows any competent person to take the pipeline over.
We apply these principles to our own projects. One of them, La Forge, is a software factory driven by autonomous agents: it turns a requirement into tested, reviewed code and automates the checks using Docker and a continuous integration pipeline. Automated deployment is not an add-on there; it is the foundation.
Risks to check before you automate
- 01
Tests that are too thin
A pipeline is only as good as the checks it runs. Weak tests create a false sense of security, so we start with the most critical user journeys.
- 02
Exposed secrets
A password left in the code is a security hole. We isolate secrets and give the pipeline only the permissions it strictly needs.
- 03
Database changes
Changing a database's structure during a deployment requires particular care, because a rollback is not always possible without preparation.
- 04
Tool lock-in
We favour portable steps built on Docker and standard scripts, so you can switch platforms without rewriting everything.
- 05
An over-engineered pipeline
Automation nobody understands becomes a black box. We size it for the team that will have to maintain it.
What affects the cost of a DevOps project, and what comes next
The cost depends on the number of applications involved, the state of the code and existing tests, the number of environments to create, the complexity of the hosting, security requirements and how much training your team needs. Writing tests where there are none is quoted separately so you can plan for it.
Once in place, the pipeline needs little attention, but it has to keep up with the project: tool updates, new tests, new environments. We can look after it on its own or as part of managing your servers.
Technologies and methods
- Docker
- Linux
- GitHub Actions
- CI/CD
- Automated testing
- Rollback
- Monitoring
Frequently asked questions
Do the tests use our customers' data?
No, we run tests on dummy or anonymised data. Your real data stays in production, which limits the risk of leaks and makes GDPR compliance easier.
Do we need to rewrite our software to set up CI/CD?
Rarely. Most applications can be brought into a continuous integration pipeline as they are. Sometimes they need adapting to run in a container, or their configuration needs separating from the code, but we work in small steps without disrupting your business.
Which tools do you use?
We regularly work with Docker, Linux and GitHub Actions, but we start from what you already use. If your code is hosted on another platform or your team has established habits, we adapt the pipeline rather than impose a change.
What happens if an automated deployment fails?
If a test fails, the version is not released and the team is notified. If a problem appears after going live, the rollback procedure takes you back to the previous version while the fix is prepared.
Will our team be able to run the pipeline without you?
That is the aim. The pipeline is documented, stored alongside your code and explained to your developers. You can then evolve it yourselves or call on us as needed.