Continuous Integration Practices
Continuous Integration (CI) is the practice of frequently merging code changes into a shared repository, with each integration verified by automated builds and tests. It helps catch integration issues early.
The CI Pipeline
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| CI PIPELINE STAGES |
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| |
| 1. Source Stage |
| - Developer commits code |
| - Triggers the pipeline |
| |
| 2. Build Stage |
| - Compile source code |
| - Resolve dependencies |
| - Create build artifacts |
| |
| 3. Test Stage |
| - Run unit tests |
| - Run integration tests |
| - Code quality checks (linting, static analysis) |
| |
| 4. Package Stage |
| - Create deployable artifacts |
| - Version the build |
| |
| 5. Deploy Stage |
| - Deploy to staging environment |
| - Run smoke tests |
| |
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CI Configuration Example
# .github/workflows/ci.yml
name: CI Pipeline
on:
push:
branches: [main, develop]
pull_request:
branches: [main]
jobs:
build-and-test:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v3
- name: Set up JDK 17
uses: actions/setup-java@v3
with:
java-version: '17'
distribution: 'temurin'
- name: Build with Maven
run: mvn clean compile
- name: Run Tests
run: mvn test
- name: Package
run: mvn package -DskipTests
- name: Upload Artifact
uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
with:
name: app-package
path: target/*.jar
Best Practices
- Commit to the main branch at least once per day
- Fix broken builds within 10 minutes — don't let them pile up
- Keep the build fast — under 10 minutes is ideal
- Run tests in parallel when possible
- Automate everything — never build manually
Key Takeaways
- CI catches integration problems early when they are cheapest to fix
- A good CI pipeline automates build, test, and deploy
- Fix broken builds immediately to maintain trust in the process
- CI is the foundation for Continuous Delivery and Deployment