What is CI/CD Pipeline: Full Form, Benefits, Phases, Types & More

Agility and speed are essential for efficient modern software development. The CI/CD pipeline is a primary process for automating the software development workflow, reducing the time required to release the software, improving quality, and decreasing manual workload. In this CI/CD pipeline tutorial, we’ll learn about its phases, how the pipeline tool works, its benefits, and how to implement it.

Understanding CI/CD Pipeline

A CI/CD pipeline stands for Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment. It is a process whereby code is integrated and developed continuously until it is ready to go live and deploy. This allows new software releases to be delivered without user intervention.

CI/CD pipelines can be classified in terms of the level of automation involved, and the CI/CD pipeline full form refers to Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment, which is typically classified into three main types:

1. Continuous Integration
2. Continuous Delivery
3. Continuous Deployment

What is Continuous Integration?

Software development utilizes continuous integration (CI) when developers perform multiple code integrations that merge daily into a common code base. The testing system detects errors automatically when it performs integration checks. The automated build and testing tools Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and GitLab CI/CD operate within CI to merge code changes in shared repositories with automatic testing that finds errors before they reach the end-user.

Also Read: Continuous Integration Tools in Agile

What is Continuous Delivery?

With Continuous Delivery (CD), developers extend Continuous Integration principles by maintaining code in a condition that always enables deployment. Deployment does not happen immediately but still requires very minimal initiation. CD enables reliable software updates, which are possible anytime during development. Continuous delivery operates because of automated testing in combination with infrastructure such as code and deployment pipelines. Popular tools available for CD include Spinnaker, AWS CodePipeline, and Azure DevOps.

What is Continuous Deployment?

Continuous Deployment is just a step up from CI when the deployment aspect is concerned because it means sending production-ready changes directly to production. The system also makes it possible for new updates to be deployed automatically and in a fast and reliable fashion to end users. To deploy such software, testing, monitoring, and rollback mechanisms need to be matured to never enable faulty software to reach production. It uses tools such as Kubernetes, ArgoCD, and AWS CodeDeploy, making the deployment process smooth, and the team can operate their software delivery functions at an agile level with high operational efficiency.

What is meant by Continuous Testing?

Continuous testing is software testing in which automated tests are run at each pipeline stage of CI/CD to find defects early. This ensures that the software is secure and performs well and that code changes do not produce new bugs.

Key Aspects:

• Tests execute automatically after any new code gets committed to the system.
• The system checks release defects during the software’s developmental cycle.
• Integration with CI/CD ensures quality control throughout the development lifecycle.
• Various Testing Types include unit, integration, performance, and security testing.
• The process gives developers speedily delivered information to help them boost their code quality.

CI Workflow

In a CI (Continuous Integration) workflow, developers regularly merge the code into a shared repository. Automated builds and tests can then validate the change.

A typical CI workflow is shown in the image below. A developer develops and writes an application and then commits to the repo, where this CI tool will process the code and build the application, running automated tests. Before proceeding, if changes are required, issues have to be detected. If everything is fine, the maintainer or the developer merges the changes, and the process is ready for deployment.

They help the teams identify bugs that can be fixed early, maintain code quality, and develop efficiently.

Also Read: Top 15 CI/CD Tools

CI and CD Workflow

CI and CD extend CI, where the release process is automated. The following images show the difference between continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous deployment.

• Continuous Integration is about having continuous code integration, builds, and numerous automated tests.
• Continuous Delivery goes beyond CI and guarantees that the application can be released anytime. However, manual approval is required before it is released into production.
• Continuous Deployment completely automates everything, thus deploying every successful change to production.

Why is CI/CD Important?

Modern software development cannot happen without CI/CD, as it deploys the code from integration to the live state. The use of CI/CD pipeline automates testing and deployment, allowing teams to find errors early and require less time to find high-quality software with minimal downtime.

Frequent integration smooths collaboration, and automated deployment reduces human errors and time to market. In addition, continuous feedback is drawn from CI/CD, which pairs well with product development to keep a team on track according to user expectations. Ultimately, this practice prevents the software-driven business from becoming a bottleneck and enhances its efficiency, reliability, and scalability.

Types of CI/CD Pipeline

The CI/CD pipeline executes routine software development processes, leading to faster, more reliable software releases. Different CI/CD pipeline approaches suit organizations that need different architectural settings for their operational approaches and release methods. A comprehensive list of CI/CD pipelines, functional descriptions, and benefit assessments exists.

Standard CI/CD Pipeline

The CI/CD pipeline follows systematic progress from the source stage to the build and testing phases until it arrives at deployment. When developers make code pushes through the version control system, the system begins an automatic compilation phase and then tests and deploys the software. Three major automated pipeline orchestration tools, Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD and CircleCI, help with pipeline execution.

Cloud-Native CI/CD Pipelines

The plan is to enable cloud-based applications through a cloud-native CI/CD pipeline utilizing the microservice architecture to develop and deploy services independently. Each microservice has a distinct pipeline. Thus, one can scale and deploy efficiently. The automated build and deployment are done via cloud-based tools such as AWS CodePipeline, Azure DevOps, and Google Cloud Build. Image scanning and runtime protection are enforced.

Kubernetes-Native CI/CD Pipelines

A Kubernetes-native CI/CD pipeline specifically deploys applications built as containers inside Kubernetes clusters. The system implements Kubernetes jobs in combination with pods to perform building testing and deployment functions. RBAC, with pod security policies, ensures security management across the system. The Kubernetes CI/CD workflow optimization tools Jenkins X, Tekton, and Argo CD deliver GitOps-driven deployments and automated rollback features for Kubernetes deployments.

CI/CD Pipeline for Monorepos

The single repository structure of a monorepo needs a well-designed CI/CD pipeline, enabling builders to evaluate distinct components without testing the complete codebase. The dependency tracking tools Bazel and Google’s Cloud Build enable high efficiency through their advanced features. Code analysis robots, alongside automated testing mechanisms, protect other modules when modifications occur in separate components.

CI/CD in the Cloud

Cloud-based CI/CD pipelines leverage the scalability and availability of cloud infrastructure. Different cloud providers offer CI/CD services, including:

• AWS CodeCommit is the Git repository for AWS’s CI/CD solution. It combines the product with AWS CodeBuild for automated build, AWS CodePipeline for orchestration, and AWS CodeDeploy for deployment.
• Azure CI/CD uses Azure Pipelines, Azure Repos, and Azure Test Plans for integration and delivery tasks with Git integration and automated testing.
• Google Cloud CI/CD offers Cloud Build for builds and Google Cloud Source Repositories for Git, including Kubernetes and Firebase for integrations.
• The IBM Cloud CI and CD ecosystem has IBM Cloud Continuous Delivery as the platform (a collection of giving services) and IBM Cloud Code Engine (as a service to deploy containerized workloads).

CI/CD Pipeline Patterns

Different patterns help structure and optimize CI/CD workflows:

• Build and Deploy Model: Automates the entire process from build to deployment.
• Pipelines as Code: Defines CI/CD pipelines in code (e.g., YAML, Jenkinsfiles) for version control and automation.
• Full Approval Pattern: Requires manual approvals for compliance and security at critical stages.
• Test Automation Pattern: Integrates extensive automated testing (unit, integration, security) to ensure software quality.
• Stable Internal Releases: Deploy software internally before public release to catch errors early.
• Parallel Workflows: Executes multiple steps (testing, security scanning) simultaneously to optimize pipeline efficiency.
• Button Push Pattern: Requires manual deployment triggers instead of full automation for better release control.

Difference between Continuous Delivery and Deployment

A significant distinction between Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment depends on how it triggers releases to production:

• Continuous Delivery ensures that the code changes are always deployable, but Deployment is still a manual process or a trigger. The team also decides when to push a change from development to production.
• Continuous Deployment automates everything from check-in to code release by automating all the checks in the release process and delivering any version to the production server by pushing a button with no human in sight.

Simply put, Continuous Delivery involves controlled release, while Continuous Deployment involves automatic and immediate updates.

Phases of a CI/CD Pipeline

A CI/CD pipeline consists of structured software delivery methods that ensure efficient and smooth software delivery. The different stages hold strategic value in automating development, testing, and delivery.

1.   Source Code Integration

A code is written and committed into a version control system like Git. The multiple merges avoid integration conflicts, and each commit becomes automatic with the CI/CD pipeline.

2.   Build Stage

A program is entered and compiled to get the application code. The software dependency is resolved, and all the libraries are packaged to ensure they can be built correctly and ready for testing.

3.  Testing Phase

Functional and stability automated tests are executed for the application functionality and stability using unit, integration, and regression tests. Code quality itself may also be tested, whether for security or performance tests, before deployment.

4.  Deployment

Once the tested application, if no final checks are needed for it, is ready, it is deployed to a staging environment for final checks or directly to production. There are manual deployments based on continuous delivery principles or completely automated in case of continuous deployment.

5.  Monitoring & Feedback

The logs and analytics are monitored for the system performance post-deployment after the deployment. Real-time issue tracking allows their buildings stability, while the feedback loops help the teams refine and improve the application for future updates.

Benefits of a CI/CD Pipeline

Enabling a CI/CD pipeline facilitates the overall development and deployment process and brings the development and deployment process of the new speed, reliability, and efficiency. Here are the key advantages:

●   Faster Software Releases

Automated CI/CD pipelines handle recurring operations in code unification, testing phases, and deployment activities to speed up software deployments. This pipeline allows developers to develop more quickly, given that they can fix bugs and develop new functions that the customer needs or the functionality required on the market.

●  Higher Code Quality

The CI/CD pipeline is based on continuous testing. This allows all code changes to be automatically tested, where bugs and security vulnerabilities can be identified in one go. It keeps the software high quality and minimizes the chance of an issue entering production.

●   Reduced Manual Effort

The pipeline is much automated, and it would eliminate much manual intervention. This means developers are no longer responsible for manually triggering builds, test runs, and software deployment. By creating automation, development becomes more efficient, mistake-prone humans are eliminated, time for innovation and developing features is increased, and developers can focus more on the things that matter the most: developing features and innovation.

●  Enhanced Collaboration

This promotes a calling-type environment where developers frequently integrate code changes that work on the CI/CD pipeline. It eliminates integration conflicts by ensuring that code is continuously merged, tested, and shared with the team. This shared approach facilitates communication between team members and helps optimize the workflow.

●  Quick Feedback Loops

The most important advantage of a CI/CD pipeline is immediate feedback after each code change. Continuous integration lets developers know whenever their changes cause issues and easily solve them before they grow. This allows the software to always be in a deployable state.

●  Improved Stability

A CI/CD pipeline achieves more stable software through an exodus of frequent, smaller updates. With CI/CD, on the other hand, small and frequent updates distribute bugs and increase the risk of them occurring many at once, compared to a large update that may only occur several times a year.

Popular CI/CD Pipeline Tools

The setup and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines can be accomplished through several available tools. The top popular tools used for CI/CD pipeline setup include:

• Jenkins: It is very popular as an open-source CI/CD server. However, it is known to be flexible and scalable as required.
• GitLab CI/CD: GitLab is an all-in-one DevOps platform. Its CI/CD features make integrating code and deploying software easy.
• CircleCI: Same as the one that speeds up testing and deployment, it’s a cloud-based tool. Both GitHub and Bitbucket are supported.
• Travis CI: Travis CI is a very popular way for GitHub users to automatically test and ensure the quality of their code.
• AWS CodePipeline is an AWS service for teams that provides the whole chain of CI/CD for cloud apps.

How to Create a CI/CD Pipeline

Breaking down the CICD into key steps makes it seem less complex when setting up a CI/CD pipeline. Essentially, these are the steps required to build a CI/CD pipeline:

1. Choose a CI/CD Tool

Choose which of the features is suitable for your project. Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, and AWS CodePipeline have DevExpress-specific features. For example, the things you want integrate your version control system and scalability.

2.  Set Up a Version Control System

The source code management systems GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab allow users to control their program code. The team should adopt a stable branching approach, like GitFlW on GitHub, to organize code and enable effortless tracking of modifications.

3.  Write Build and Test Scripts

All testing procedures and production builds need to become automated processes. Developing your code requires tools like Maven, Webpack, and JUnit for development testing. Testing must happen at three automation levels, starting from units and continuing to integration testing and security assessment, to identify problems rapidly.

4.   Decide on Deployment Strategies

Select between the two approaches: Continuous Delivery (CD) and Continuous Deployment. The deployment becomes automated through CD from staging to production, but it still needs human approval to proceed to production. In continuous deployment, automatic production deployment occurs after each verified change.

5.   Monitor and Improve

Monitoring your pipeline and software deployed will use tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or Cloud Watch. Log and collect metric data, iterate your process, increase efficiencies, and minimize errors.

Conclusion

Modern software development can not run without a well-implemented CI/CD pipeline and is the only way to make the team deliver high-quality applications quickly and reliably. A benefit of automating integration, testing, and deployment is that organizations can reduce collaboration errors and faster releases. It enables the developers to concentrate more on creating cutting-edge features rather than toiling over the mundaneness of the same. Whether for startups or larger companies, being in the CI/CD pipeline increases productivity, simplifies workflow, and ultimately improves UX. Enrol in the Certificate Program in DevOps & Cloud Engineering With Microsoft by Hero Vired for more insight on DevOps and its components and gain professional certification.