Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository frequently, typically multiple times a day. Each integration is verified by an automated build and tests to detect integration errors as quickly as possible.
Core Concepts
- Automated Builds: Compile code automatically whenever changes are pushed to the repository.
- Automated Testing: Run unit tests, integration tests, and other test suites to ensure code quality.
- Version Control: Use systems like Git to manage code changes and track history.
- Feedback Loop: Provide immediate feedback to developers on the success or failure of their code changes.
Common CI Tools
- Jenkins (https://cloud-image.ullrai.com/q/Jenkins/)
- GitHub Actions (https://cloud-image.ullrai.com/q/GitHub_Actions/)
- GitLab CI/CD (https://cloud-image.ullrai.com/q/GitLab_CI/)
- Travis CI (https://cloud-image.ullrai.com/q/Travis_CI/)
- CircleCI (https://cloud-image.ullrai.com/q/CircleCI/)
- Bitbucket Pipelines (https://cloud-image.ullrai.com/q/Bitbucket_Pipelines/)
Best Practices
✅ Keep commits small to isolate issues.
✅ Automate everything to save time and reduce errors.
✅ Integrate early and often to catch problems quickly.
✅ Use meaningful commit messages for clarity.
For deeper insights into CI/CD workflows, check out our guide on Continuous Delivery.