Back in the day, to craft a robust software application, developers dove deep into the heart of the problem the software aimed to solve. They would often start with something like a pseudo-code or flowchart:

1START
2  INPUT: User requirements
3  PROCESS: Analyze and design solution
4  OUTPUT: Software application
5END

This demanded an in-depth understanding of where the software would be used, by whom, and the intricate processes spanning from specification to support.

As technology sprinted forward, demands surged for more features, a broader user base, and swifter execution. To tackle these challenges, programmers evolved, branching into specialized roles. This evolution led to the creation of roles like:

• Software Engineers: Writing complex algorithms, designing software structures
• Network Administrators: Setting up and maintaining network structures
• Database Administrators (DBAs): Ensuring data integrity, optimizing queries
• System Architects: Designing the overall structure of the system
• QA Engineers: Testing software for defects, ensuring quality

... and many more.

With this diversification, we saw the emergence of specialized teams, each playing its part in the software life cycle:

1{
2  "Development Teams": {
3    "Business Analysts": "Gathering and defining business requirements",
4    "System Architects": "Designing the software's high-level structure",
5    "Front-end Developers": "Crafting the user interface",
6    "Back-end Developers": "Building the server-side logic",
7    "Testers": "Ensuring the software meets quality standards"
8  }
9}

Once the software was polished and ready for deployment, it was handed over to Operations:

1Operations:
2  - Systems Engineers: Manage and maintain the systems
3  - Release Engineers: Handle software deployment
4  - DBAs: Ensure database performance
5  - Network Engineers: Secure and optimize network traffic
6  - Security Professionals: Safeguard against vulnerabilities

However, this separation often led to bottlenecks, miscommunication, and friction. The key idea behind DevOps is to bridge this gap. By integrating Dev (Development) and Ops (Operations), DevOps promotes a more collaborative and agile environment, streamlining the entire software delivery process.