CI/CD: Definition, Difference, Working Models, and More

DevOps methodology is a big buzz in the technology world due to the adaptive model it offers with CI/CD. CI/CD has been in the software engineering industry for a long time, but DevOps developers have adopted this methodology seriously. CI is an acronym for continuous integration in DevOps and CD is an acronym for Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment. To harness the real power of DevOps, it is necessary to understand all three terms and how they work together.

What is CI (Continuous Integration)?

In a software development project, multiple engineers work on building different features. In fact, in some cases, for a single feature development, more than one engineer contributes to the code.

Continuous integration in DevOps is a practice of appending, i.e., integrating their code as soon as they finish up or as per the defined interval into the main repository. The system will automatically test the efficiency of the code and even raise a ticket if the code is incorrect or not correctly integrated. If the code passes the test, it will be merged into the main codebase.

What is CD (Continuous Delivery)?

The role of the continuous delivery platform starts once the code is integrated with the main codebase after initial automated testing. CD is the practice of delivering the code for further thorough testing once the build is integrated into the repository.

What is CD (Continuous Deployment)?

This is the final and automated process of software development. After the continuous delivery stage, the deployment starts. In this case, the tested code will be deployed by pushing it into production.

When CI/CD is referred to, it can be continuous integration and continuous delivery or continuous integration and continuous deployment depending on the scenario. However, always remember that the whole process will always go in a sequence of integration, delivery, and deployment.

What is the difference between continuous delivery and continuous deployment?

As CD is referred for delivery and deployment both, it often causes confusion. Therefore, it is worth understanding the difference.

The final deployment of the product is the final milestone and should be achieved faster. Continuous integration and continuous deployment make it faster with process automation unlike continuous integration and continuous delivery, in which the system may include manual delivery of the code repository.

In a very mature DevOps environment, continuous integration and continuous deployment are used very heavily.

Working model of CI/CD/CD:

The whole software development process is segmented into three parts. Each of these may take place daily or even hourly to speed up the process of integration, delivery, and deployment.

1. Continuous integration in DevOps constantly merge newly developed code into the main code repository and a basic level of testing and validation are performed automatically.
2. Continuous delivery platform takes code repository from the first stage for delivery and moves it to the staging for further testing and validation.
3. Continuous deployment constantly sends the code to production by deploying it after thorough testing and quality assurance.

The whole process is automated and it benefits businesses with advantages like quicker bug finding and fixing, and faster development and deployment cycle.This model of CI/CD/CD makes DevOps more successful, meaningful, and advantageous for businesses. If you want to explore more about it or want to take advantage of continuous integration and continuous delivery as a service, get in touch with Princeton IT Services today.