Understanding CI, CD and CT processes

By On

 

What is CI, CD, and CT? A Simple Guide to Modern Software Development

In today’s software development world, companies need to release new features quickly, fix bugs fast, and make sure their software is always high quality. To do this, they use practices like Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), and Continuous Testing (CT). These practices help automate many parts of the software development process, making it easier to deliver working software more quickly and reliably.

In this blog post, we’ll break down what CI, CD, and CT are, why they matter, and how they work together to make software development smoother.


What is CI (Continuous Integration)?

Continuous Integration (CI) is the practice of automatically testing and merging code changes into a shared project. It means that every time a developer adds new code, it gets tested immediately to make sure it doesn’t break anything in the existing software.

How CI Works:

  • Developers make changes to the code and commit them (send them) to a central repository (a place where all the code is stored).
  • An automated system checks the code by running tests and building the software to make sure it works well with the rest of the project.

Why CI is Important:

  • Catches problems early: The sooner we test code; the sooner we catch issues.
  • Saves time: It avoids big surprises when merging code later.
  • Improves team collaboration: Everyone is working with the latest version of the code, which reduces confusion.


What is CD (Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment)?

Continuous Delivery (CD) and Continuous Deployment (CD) are practices that help teams release software updates quickly and easily. They focus on automating the release process so that software can go from development to production (in the hands of users) faster and with less manual work.

  • Continuous Delivery: This means that every change is automatically tested and prepared for deployment to a staging environment (a fake version of the production environment) where it’s checked again. A human decides when to push it to production (real-world use).

  • Continuous Deployment: With this approach, every change that passes the automated tests is immediately deployed to production without human intervention.

How CD Works:

  • After the code passes tests in the CI phase, it’s automatically pushed to staging (a final test environment) to make sure it works before going to real users.
  • In Continuous Deployment, if everything works in staging, it goes straight to production.

Why CD is Important:

  • Faster releases: We can deploy new features or fixes much faster.
  • Less risk: With automated tests and staging environments, we can be more confident that the software will work properly when it reaches users.
  • No manual work: We avoid manual steps, reducing the chances of human error.


What is CT (Continuous Testing)?

Continuous Testing (CT) is the practice of automatically testing code throughout the development process. Every time a developer writes new code or changes something, it gets tested immediately. This helps catch bugs early and ensures that everything works as expected.

How CT Works:

  • Tests run automatically at every step—whenever new code is added, whenever code is integrated, and even before it’s deployed to production.
  • These tests can include unit tests (checking small parts of the code), integration tests (checking how parts of the system work together), and other types of tests.

Why CT is Important:

  • Catches bugs quickly: Bugs are found and fixed early, before they get too big.
  • Ensures quality: We can be more confident that the software is working as expected.
  • Faster development: Developers can focus on adding features instead of fixing big problems later.


How CI, CD, and CT Work Together

When used together, CI, CD, and CT create a smooth, automated process that helps teams build, test, and release software quickly and reliably.

  • CI makes sure that every code change is integrated and tested properly.
  • CD takes that code and ensures it’s ready for deployment, whether manually (in Continuous Delivery) or automatically (in Continuous Deployment).
  • CT ensures that the software is always working well by running automated tests at every step of the process.



Why These Practices Matter

These practices help teams:

  • Move fast: With automation, changes can be deployed quickly without waiting for manual reviews or fixing bugs later.
  • Ensure quality: Testing everything automatically means fewer bugs and higher-quality software.
  • Improve collaboration: CI/CD/CT practices encourage everyone to work together more smoothly, without long waits for code reviews or deployment.


Conclusion

To sum up:

  • CI (Continuous Integration) helps us test and integrate code changes early.
  • CD (Continuous Delivery or Continuous Deployment) automates the release process, making it easy to get code into production quickly.
  • CT (Continuous Testing) makes sure that all code is tested continuously to avoid bugs and ensure quality.

Together, these practices help teams build better software, faster. Whether you're a developer, a tester, or someone involved in the software delivery process, understanding and using CI, CD, and CT can help make your workflow more efficient and reliable.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Client and Server

By On
Image
    What is a Client and a Server? In today’s digital world, the terms  client  and  server  are fundamental to understanding how the internet and networks work. From browsing websites to using mobile apps, we constantly interact with both clients and servers without even realizing it. But what exactly do these terms mean, and how do they work together? The Client-Server Model At the core of most internet and network activities is the  client-server model . In this model, two primary entities interact: The Client : A client is any device or program that requests a service or resource. It could be your  laptop ,  smartphone ,  web browser , or  application . The Server : A server is a powerful computer or system that provides resources, services, or data to clients. Servers store data or handle tasks, like hosting a website or managing emails. How Does the Client-Server Relationship Work? When you use a web browser to visit a website...
Read more

Use Case, Test Case and Test Scenario

By On
Image
  Understanding Use Case, Test Case, and Test Scenario in Simple Terms When you're testing software or a website, there are different ways to describe what needs to be tested. Use Case , Test Case , and Test Scenario are terms that help us organize the testing process. While they all deal with testing, they each serve a different purpose.  Here's a simple way to understand the difference: 1. What’s a Use Case? Use Case is like a story that describes how a person (a user) will interact with a system or application. It tells you what the user is trying to do with the software. In Simple Words : It’s the goal the user is trying to achieve when using the software. Example: Use Case : "A customer wants to log in to an online store." The use case would describe the customer opening the app, entering their username and password, and logging in. 2. What’s a Test Scenario? Test Scenario is a broad description of what needs to be tested. It's a bit like a checklist of...
Read more

Logging a Defect/Bug

By On
Image
How to Log a Bug (Defect) with a Detailed Description Bugs (or defects) are a normal part of software development, but identifying and fixing them quickly is crucial for smooth user experiences. To help the development team fix bugs as fast as possible, you need to log a detailed bug report.  But what exactly should you include in your report? Let’s break it down step-by-step. Why a Good Bug Report Matters A well-written bug report helps developers understand exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. Without clear details, it can take much longer to identify and fix the issue. A good report will: Help the team reproduce the bug (recreate the problem so they can understand it). Make it easier to fix the bug (give them the information they need to find the cause). Speed up the process of resolving the issue. So, how do you write a good bug report? Here’s what you need to include. Key Components of a Good Bug Report 1. Bug Title/Summary Start with a clear and simple title that de...
Read more