Everything you need to know about CI/CD

Companies are creating software in minutes with the help of CI/CD. CI/CD removes the lack of consistency and need for excessive manual tasks. It ensures the software’s quality, safety, and reliability.

Everything users need to know about the Continuous Integration (CI) and, Continuous Delivery (CD) process is discussed in this blog; let’s have an in-depth look.

Continuous Integration (CI)

CI is an automated development process. It helps developers to integrate the code into a shared repository. It is not a one-time process. Members can integrate the code several times per day. In this check-in, an automated build detects the problems. Even when the code changes, it quickly copes up with the new code.  

Developers use CI in three stages: push, test, and fix. Through these three stages, CI ensures a smooth workflow and error-free high-quality software.

In the first stage, CI pushes the code into the master branch. The Master branch is responsible for releasing the software. This stage is also called trunk-based development. In CI, the use of branches is a quick process. In the second stage, it uses an automated but reliable suite of tests. It provides feedback in real-time. As soon as developers find any error, they fix it before it creates another error.

Continuous Delivery (CD)

Continuous delivery is the ability to push the software into production and safely give it to the customers. This process includes changes like the new feature, configuration changes, bug fixes, and experiments. To achieve this success, members need to ensure that the code is always in a deployable state. 

In CD, developers work in small batches. As the code is divided into small parts, it is easy to test and deploy them. It also reduces deployment time and risk. 

Another fact about continuous deployment is automation. All the repetitive tasks turn into an automated system. Thus it reduces the cost of hiring manual labor. It also increases sustainability. In CD, both developers and operators work together.

CI/CD makes the team more productive. It reduces the time in every stage, starting from building code to sending the software to the customers by automating it. A strong and shared mind-set of the DevOps team makes it a success.