AWS CodeDeploy vs AWS OpsWorks: What are the differences?

Introduction

AWS CodeDeploy and AWS OpsWorks are both deployment services provided by Amazon Web Services. While they both aim to simplify the deployment process, there are key differences between the two. This article will outline and compare the main differences between AWS CodeDeploy and AWS OpsWorks.

1. Deployment Target Type: AWS CodeDeploy is primarily designed to deploy applications to any type of compute instance, including EC2 instances, on-premises servers, and Lambda functions. On the other hand, AWS OpsWorks focuses more on automating infrastructure management and is primarily used to deploy and manage applications on EC2 instances.

2. Deployment Model: AWS CodeDeploy works on a code-centric model, where it deploys new versions of the application code. It offers flexible deployment options such as in-place updates and blue/green deployments. On the other hand, AWS OpsWorks follows a stack-based model, where the entire stack, including the operating system and application code, is versioned and deployed together.

3. Level of Abstraction: AWS CodeDeploy operates at a lower level of abstraction, providing fine-grained control over the deployment process. It allows custom scripts and hooks to be executed during different stages of the deployment. In contrast, AWS OpsWorks provides a higher level of abstraction and automates tasks such as instance provisioning, software configuration, and application deployment.

4. Workflow and Automation: AWS CodeDeploy allows for fully customizable and scripted deployment workflows, allowing for more granular control and automation. It integrates well with other AWS services like CloudWatch and CloudFormation. AWS OpsWorks, on the other hand, follows an opinionated workflow and automates many common deployment tasks out-of-the-box, making it easier to get started but providing less flexibility for customization.

5. Auto Scaling: AWS CodeDeploy provides built-in support for auto-scaling, allowing applications to scale based on predefined scaling policies. It integrates with AWS Auto Scaling to automatically adjust the capacity of instances during deployments. AWS OpsWorks also supports auto-scaling, but it uses AWS OpsWorks Stacks and Layer-based scaling instead.

6. Pricing: Both AWS CodeDeploy and AWS OpsWorks have different pricing models. AWS CodeDeploy uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on the number of instances deployed to, while AWS OpsWorks has a more complex pricing structure that takes into account the number of instances, stack layers, and data transfer.

In summary, AWS CodeDeploy is a versatile deployment service that focuses on deploying applications to various compute instances, offering flexible deployment options and fine-grained control. AWS OpsWorks, on the other hand, is an infrastructure management service that automates common deployment tasks and is more focused on EC2 instance management and application deployment.