CI/CD represents the combined practices for continuous integration and continuous delivery. This is a method of software development by which you can release new versions at any time in sustainable manners. When updating code becomes a routine then software development cycles become more frequent, meaningful, and faster.
Continuous integration is a prerequisite for continuous integration and continuous delivery that requires that developers can merge their updates to major source code many times in a day. Each code is merged, build automated code, and perform testing on sequences. The result can be received in less than 10 minutes so developers can focus on their work without any disturbance.
Example of CI/CD
Here is an example of a fully automated CI/CD pipeline. Each change in master git is required to perform the following steps;
- During the reuse of dependency cache, build code, and web assets.
- Run the automated test that suite. These are Javascript or Node.js applications so the test for this is written by using Jest.
- After passing the test, a deploy block is updated to run the production code in the cloud.
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Benefits of CI/CD
CI/CD performs tasks automatically so human error can be avoided. If your company adopt practices for CI/CD then they have a various competitive advantage that enables you to;
- Deliver the software with minor risk because the CI/CD pipelines are standardized to release processes across the whole project. Perform testing on each change in source code will reduce the bugs.
- Developers can release new features most frequently because the CI/CD pipeline can visualize your process from commit to production on a single screen. You can navigate in any stage for optimization of your process. This will help to remove roadblocks and leads your company towards success.
- You can deliver your product according to users’ requirements. Sometimes more updates will lead to more users’ feedback. This advantage can be achieved by performing A/B testing features or perform testing on new users by real end-users. This will help to avoid investing in features that are required by customers.
- CI/CD helps to improve productivity. Developers who don’t work on this practice always remain under-stressed. They are deploying constantly and hard to fix bugs. Sometimes long-lived features are too high to review proper view that degrades your product quality. Despite manual testing, CI/CD will help to optimize your impact for users.
- CI/CD compound will deploy fast that lead towards less risk and more frequent updates. This procedure helps in fast learning and more feedbacks from users that helps in more satisfied customers and better product delivery.
When CI/CD is not suitable?
Continuous delivery provides a great impact on your system but there are certain situations when CD does not suitable.
- Continuous updates to their software are not required by customers.
- Regulations can restrict how software update is required. For example, Continuous updates such as software that is used in aerospace, telecom, and medical area are not a suitable option.
This article was written in collaboration with experts from the Buddy
