CI/CD: everything you need to know about continuous integration and deployment

It refers to a set of DevOps practices aimed at automating the processes of integrating, testing, delivering, and deploying code. This method allows teams to release reliable versions of their applications more quickly, while reducing the risks associated with human error.

CI, or continuous integration, involves frequently integrating new code into a shared repository. Each change triggers a series of automated tests to detect errors as early as possible. This practice reduces conflicts between developers and allows for faster progress with cleaner code.

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CD can refer to two different approaches. Continuous delivery prepares the code for production at any time, while continuous deployment goes so far as to fully automate the release after validation. In both cases, the goal is to increase the frequency of releases while reducing risks.

It is an essential component of DevOps culture. It enables development and operations teams to collaborate effectively using common tools and automated processes. By implementing a CI/CD pipeline, teams adopt a more fluid way of working, capable of producing frequent, reliable and higher quality releases.

Adopting CI/CD brings many benefits:

• Fewer bugs thanks to automated testing with every commit.
• Faster and more frequent deliveries.
• Early detection of errors before they cause problems in production.
• Time savings for developers and testers.
• Better code quality.
• Smoother user experience thanks to stable versions.

The CI/CD pipeline works by automating several steps, from commit to deployment. When a developer pushes a change, a series of actions are automatically triggered: project build, test execution, compliance verification, and then delivery or deployment.

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This process relies on tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions and CircleCI, which orchestrate the various stages and ensure a consistent and secure workflow.

In a traditional development cycle, code conflicts or bugs can arise late in the process, making them more difficult to resolve. With continuous integration, each change is tested immediately, allowing errors to be identified as soon as they occur.

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This encourages teams to make frequent commits by regularly integrating small changes. This pace allows for better control of code quality, avoids side effects and maintains a high level of stability throughout the project.

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These two practices are complementary, but there is one important difference between them.

Continuous delivery involves automating the sending of validated code to an environment ready for production. The final trigger is often manual, allowing for additional human validation.

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Continuous deployment, on the other hand, eliminates this manual step. The code is deployed automatically as soon as it is validated. This is the most advanced approach, reserved for teams that have complete mastery of their tools and processes.

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Automated testing is at the heart of CI/CD. It allows you to verify that the application's features are working as expected after each change. The more tests there are and the more use cases they cover, the more reliable the pipeline is.

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Automating tests ensures that each version of the code meets the expected quality criteria. This prevents regressions, enhances security, and allows developers to focus on business value without fear of breaking everything with each deployment.

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kapptivate integrates directly into your CI/CD pipeline to automatically run your web or mobile test scenarios. As soon as a change is made to the application, Kapptivate executes the defined user journeys to verify that everything is working correctly.

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With this integration, you can validate critical features without manual intervention, secure each update, and accelerate your release cycles.

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CI/CD is particularly recommended for agile or constantly evolving projects. It is perfectly suited to environments where updates are frequent, such as web applications, SaaS software, or mobile apps.

It is also ideal for distributed teams, as it provides a common framework for validation and delivery, regardless of the team's geography or size.

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Some tools to get started with CI/CD

Here is a selection of recognised tools for implementing an effective CI/CD pipeline:

• Jenkins: a comprehensive open-source solution.
• GitLab CI/CD: natively integrated into GitLab.
• GitHub Actions: perfect for projects hosted on GitHub.‍
• CircleCI: known for its speed and simplicity.