Top CI/CD Tools in 2024 & Why You Must Learn Them

CI and CD refer to continuous integration and continuous delivery, respectively. Here, continuous integration refers to the continuous tweaking and addition of software updates to a particular application or software before making the changes or updates official to ensure a better quality of product and, therefore, user experience or UX.

On the other hand, continuous delivery refers to the delivery or deployment or official launch of the application or software after undergoing the software additions or changes to ensure that the pipeline followed by the organization is not hindered as a whole.

Table of Content

• Importance of CI/CD in modern software development
• Benefits of using CI CD tools
• 15 Top CI and CD tools in 2023
• Why are CI and CD Tools Important for DevOps?
• How to choose the right CI CD tools?

Importance of CI/CD in modern software development

CI/CD is essential for achieving agility, quality, and efficiency in software development. CI tools and CD tools involves integrating code changes frequently, running automated tests, and deploying them to production environments. CI CD tools enable developers to automate these processes, resulting in faster feedback loops, early bug detection, and continuous improvement of software quality. Also read about Full Stack Development and polymorphism-in-java.

Benefits of using CI CD tools

CI CD tools offer numerous benefits to software development teams. They enhance collaboration among team members, automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual errors, and increase the overall speed of development and deployment. With proper CI CD tools implementation, and CI tools and CD tools, organizations can achieve faster time-to-market, higher customer satisfaction, and improved team productivity.

Top CI and CD tools in 2023

These processes are nowadays carried out via applications, which can be considered some of the best CI and CD applications in 2022, which allow programmers to carry out their assigned tasks. Some of these applications have been mentioned below for your ready referral. 

1. Bamboo (CI)

   Developed by Atlassian, Bamboo is the first tool up on this list which is a very handy CI tool. We recommend using Bamboo or learning about it as it is an online service that supports the automatic integration of software upgrades into the pipeline. 

   What Bamboo does is it allows you, as a programmer, to create automated builds or frameworks followed by which you can test out your software. The tool also allows you to separate or segregate your builds to test them out by creating separate environments which do not harm or affect the overall production pipeline.

   Bamboo has several other applications and advantages as well, such as those given below: 

   1. i) Offering a mostly complete platform, which is pre-built
   2. ii) Ready-to-deploy CI

   iii) Aspects like release management and end-to-end are available within one platform

   1. iv) Can run on operating systems like Linux, Solaris, and Windows and is supported on browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari

   Thus, Bamboo is one of those top CI tools we would recommend as it would allow you, as members of the DevOps teams of your respective organizations, to test different builds without disturbing the pipeline seamlessly.

    

2. TeamCity (CI)

   TeamCity is a CI tool that was developed by JetBrains. This particular tool operates via an online server as well and functions in Java-supported or -enabled environments. 

   One of its most noteworthy features is that it allows you to run your changes or software integrations on the server without really having to finalize or commit to them, which helps maintain pipeline integrity on the go.

   This tool allows you to:

   1. i) Segment a particular process into several parts to study its various aspects and tweak them as per necessity
   2. ii) Modify your project setup to accept changes or integrate a system as desired by the host, in this case, you 

   iii) Create certain prebuilds or templates that can be used for multiple projects later on

   1. iv) Move between servers for your project as this tool is portable
   2. v) Automatically create projects with the help of the ‘.teamcity/settings.kts’ file and so on 

   Thus, TeamCity also finds its name on the list of the top continuous integration tools 2022 that can be relied upon for both software integration and delivery, with the benefit of testing various aspects of both the processes before launch or delivery.

    

3. UrbanCode (CD)

   Developed by IBM, UrbanCode is a CD tool. It is a particularly robust tool in the sense that you are assured of automation in every stage of the delivery process, which significantly reduces the time spent in the same. 

   When you run this tool on its interface, you will find that UrbanCode allows you to:

   1. i) Add new projects from pre-assembled or created or new templates
   2. ii) Enhance the security of your delivery pipeline

   iii) Run your deliveries and receive feedback in real time, preventing several mistakes on the way

   Developers or DevOps team members highly prefer this tool because of the various facilities given below –

   1. a) Provides visual support in the form of progress graphs that map how much development is done, the time taken to transition from development to production, etc., that allows you to either move up or alter the timeline as required
   2. b) Automates the delivery process by making the software release systems interact with other elements in the pipeline

   The above characteristics make UrbanCode one of the highly rated continuous delivery tools in 2024.

    

4. Jenkins (CI and CD)

   Jenkins is a versatile CI and CD tool that was developed by Kohsuke Kawaguchi, who was an employee of Sun Systems. It is referred to as a versatile application here as you can use it for either integration of software into the pipeline or for delivery. However, it is presently utilized only for delivery and deployment. 

   Some of its noteworthy features which make it a favorite with DevOps are – 

   1. i) It is an open-source application meaning it can be used for free by anyone in the world, as seen by its current base of 1.6 million users
   2. ii) Its interface is easy to handle

   iii) Customizable plugins

   1. iv) Is compatible with any system 

   Now, Jenkins has some advantages, which have been mentioned below –

   1. a) Regular updates and feedback during the breakdown of a build
   2. b) Reduces the time required to integrate a code successfully 
   3. c) Provides for automatic testing of each aspect of the code
   4. d) Decreases time spent on the delivery process, ramping up the pipeline

   These characteristics make Jenkins a worthy choice as one of the in-demand CI-CD tools in 2022.

5. GitLab (CI)

   Developed by Dimitry Zaporozhets, the founder of GitLab.com, GitLab is a CI application which is quite popular all over the world. It is an open-source application, which means that you can contribute to or edit programs written or developed on the interface. 

   Primarily, it tracks certain issues and creates online repositories like Wiki. 

   It has some great features such as –

   (i) It can be used in integration with other software applications such as Slack, Flowdock, Campfire, and Jira 

   (ii) Ensures faster delivery of software changes while maintaining the security

   (iii) Allows you to install it easily 

   However, you can use GitLab for the whole project duration as well and not just for the CI processes, making it quite a useful and versatile application to work with. These qualities make GitLab one of the in-demand CI tools in 2024.
   

6. Docker (CD)

   Docker is a CD tool that was developed by Solomon Hykes of Paris and was initially promoted as a PaaS or a ‘Platform as a Service’ before it became the software container tool we know today. 

   The principle behind the tool is quite simple; that is, it allows programmers to create isolated bands or groups of programs that have their code systems backing them up, which can then be deployed to or transferred between servers without losing any functionality. 

   This principle was based on the idea of shipping containers. Some useful features of the tool are:

   (i) Allows for isolation of separate programs

   (ii) Increases productivity via rapid deployment and reducing focus on technical configurations 

   (iii) Allows users to view the status of the programs stored inside each of the containers

   (iv) Require less hardware than is required by other applications

   The above reasons are why Docker happens to be on this list of some of the best CD applications in 2022.

    

7. CodeShip (CI)

   Developed by CloudBees, CodeShip is yet another CI application we approve of because it allows all of you to utilize its pre-built CI interfaces, wherein you can hit the ground running concerning integration and testing of software updates. This application offers other features such as –

   (i) Provides full control of program design

   (ii) Allows programmers to set permissions for themselves and their team members

   (iii) Offers customizable workflow

   (iv) Has centralized team management as well as a dashboard system 

   These traits set CodeShip apart from other applications, making it one of the top CI tools in 2024.

    

8. Travis (CI)

   The Travis Community developed Travis from Idera. It is an open-source CI tool managed by and under GitHub that allows programmers to deploy their code to multiple cloud-based services. The application also has other noteworthy features such as –

   (i) Support for as many as 21 languages such as Perl and Python

   (ii) Secure encryption-based security environment for their files

   (iii) Fresh virtual environments are created after every interface

   The above features are not the only ones that Travis CI possesses. This is why, it is one of our personal favorites when it comes to CI tools.

    

9. Buddy (CD)

   Developed by GitHub, Buddy is a CD application that certainly deserves its place on the list of top CD tools in 2022 owing to the following features –

   (i) Isolated program running and testing capabilities 

   (ii) Can support YAML-based configuration

   (iii) Supports all the major programming languages, etc.

   You can use this to run, test, and then deploy your programs, either onto the pipeline or to another server for further testing, which makes it quite a useful application for all of us.

    

10. GoCD (CD)

    GoCD was developed by Thoughtworks and it is an open source CD application that we adore because of its features such as –

    (i) Manages complicated or intricate workflow

    (ii) Provides real-time feedback on deployment or testing flow

    (iii) Prevents bottlenecks

    (iv) Maintains overall program configuration 

    The above mentioned features of GoCD, along with many others, make it one of our preferred CD applications. 

    Therefore, the aforementioned were some of the best CI and CD applications in 2023, according to us, owing to their features.

     

11. Buddy

    Buddy is one of the powerful CI CD tools that simplifies the process of building, testing, and deploying applications. It provides a user-friendly interface and supports various programming languages and cloud platforms. Buddys advanced features, such as parallelism and caching, enable faster builds and deployments, making it a preferred choice for many development teams.

     

12. Buildbot

    Buildbot is an open-source CI/CD framework that offers flexibility and extensibility. It allows developers to define complex build and deployment workflows using a Python-based configuration system. Buildbots robust architecture and integration capabilities make it suitable for large-scale projects with diverse requirements.

     

13. Circle CI

    Circle CI is a cloud-based CI/CD platform known for its simplicity and ease of use. It offers a seamless integration with popular version control systems and supports multiple programming languages. Circle CI provides fast and reliable builds, parallel testing, and easy deployment to various hosting providers, making it an ideal choice for startups and small teams.

     

14. Azure CI/CD Pipelines

    Azure CI/CD Pipelines, part of the Azure DevOps suite, offers a comprehensive solution for building, testing, and deploying applications. It provides a rich set of features, including support for both cloud and on-premises environments, integrations with popular tools, and extensive automation capabilities.

     

15. Shippable

    Shippable is a cloud-native CI/CD platform that focuses on simplicity and scalability. It offers powerful features like parallelism, containerized builds, and integrated testing. Shippables intuitive interface and robust automation capabilities make it an excellent choice for teams working on microservices and containerized applications.

Why Should People Learn About CI and CD Tools in 2023?

In case you are an aspiring or an existing software tester using manual methods to test each and every aspect of the codes involved with each and every program or application, the resulting time spent in doing so would naturally contribute to the low delivery rate of the company, which would lead to other complications in the pipeline.

This is where using CI/CD tools or indeed learning everything about them will come in handy as it will help you to increase your output and ultimately contribute to the company’s pipeline as well.

Why are CI and CD Tools Important for DevOps?

 As mentioned above, the various CI and CD tools assist DevOps in the following ways:

• Reduced delivery time for software applications or programs
• Increased focus on innovation and creation 
• Lead to a higher quality of software delivered, ultimately benefiting the company as well as their clients
• Lower risks with respect to software testing and eventual deployment

How to choose the right CI CD tools?

When selecting a CI CD tools, consider factors such as your teams requirements, project complexity, scalability, ease of integration, and support for your preferred programming languages and platforms. Evaluate the CI tools and CD tools features, user experience, documentation, and community support to ensure it aligns with your development goals and processes. Seems interesting? Also explore Why Python & JavaScript are Loved by Developers and What is Arrays in Java | Everything You Need to Know.

Key Takeaways

CI/CD processes are important to ensure the faster creation, testing, and delivery or deployment of software applications, which can ultimately improve user experience overall and help a company to continue innovating. 

To learn more about DevOps and add it to your skillset, head to our DevOps & Cloud Engineering program, which covers everything about CI/CD and other key concepts and tools such as . So,  what are you waiting for? Go and be made for BIG things in DevOps.