Harness, a software delivery company, has announced a series of updates to its DevOps platform. The company has introduced AI agents that are deeply embedded into DevOps workflows. These AI enhancements aim to automate specific tasks and eliminate manual work that software engineers generally prefer to avoid.
Nick Durkin, CTO of Harness, explained that the goal of these AI agents is to remove the “worst parts” of being a software engineer by automating routine and undesirable tasks. The new features include three AI Assistants. The first assistant automates routine pipeline generation and can automatically troubleshoot and fix workflow issues.
The second agent helps generate code, while the third builds self-healing test suites. These AI agents have been embedded within the DevOps workflow rather than being offered as separate licenses. This integration is designed to alleviate burnout among software development teams.
Harness has also introduced a new AI Productivity Insights tool.
Harness embeds AI in DevOps workflows
This tool helps organizations measure the effectiveness and impact of AI-generated code on software development.
A beta release of an artifact registry is now available, aimed at reducing friction across DevOps workflows. The platform now includes deployment capabilities for database changes as well. Updates to the DevSecOps module have been made to enable continuous management of governance, risk, and compliance throughout the DevOps toolchain.
Pre-configured cloud environments for DevOps teams are now available to write and debug code without the need for provisioning their own environments. A centralized software delivery platform, Open Source, is also now available. This allows DevOps teams to code, build, manage artifacts, and deploy software from a single environment.
Durkin noted that AI embedded within DevOps workflows will play a critical role in allowing organizations to build and deploy applications faster than ever before. He emphasized that software engineers might prefer to work for organizations that provide such AI tools to enhance productivity. While concerns about AI potentially reducing the demand for software engineers exist, Durkin suggested that AI will likely increase the demand for skilled professionals capable of managing large-scale software development and deployment efforts.
In summary, this AI-integrated platform represents a significant step towards more efficient and scalable software development with enhanced productivity and reduced burnout for software engineers.
