What Is Continuous Integration? Understand In 200 Words

Continuous Integration is one of the fundamental DevOps practices, paired with CD(continuous delivery) for successful DevOps implementation.

CI is a development practice where developers integrate all code into a shared repository, frequently. Once code is merged, the automated build is ready to be verified and tested.

Grady Booch, an American Software Engineer first introduced this term in 1991.

As modern software is built using various components and technologies, integrating chunks of code frequently eases the process and saves time. CI puts emphasis on integrated culture and operations in a shared environment to automate the processes.

Advantages:

• Detect problems early and quickly
• Quick and frequent integrations
• Increase collaboration and communication among teams
• Continuous integration cycle results in faster delivery of software
• Less time in debugging
• Constant availability of build for testing and release
• Avoid last-minute, long, and complex integration

Some best CI tools:

• Jenkins
• Bamboo
• TeamCity
• Circle CI
• Buddy
• Travis CI
• Go

It focuses on automation tools, allowing developers to integrate, test, and deploy code frequently.

Although, it requires skills, time, and efforts to set up tools and culture along with advanced and automated testing practices.