BLOG POST ·
3
min read ·
October 28, 2020

Why You Should Implement CI/CD Pipelines in Development

CI/CD in software engineering refers to continuous integration and continuous delivery, and you need to consider several things to determine if it is the right step for your organisation. Here are some advantages of implementing this type of pipeline for software development life cycles.

CI/CD iterative loop represented in a graphic format

They let you integrate small changes in code

Regularly implementing CI/CD enables you to include small changes to the code at one time, which is easier to handle than overhauling large chunks in one go. Additionally, with this type of fine-tuned approach, you will have fewer issues to address at a later date.

When you use continuous integration, you can immediately test what you write, which lets you recognise issues before building on the code. This practice benefits remote teams and large departments who might find it challenging to coordinate in-person meetings.


They let you improve on the release rate

With CI/CD, you can detect failures faster, which lets you repair them quickly. When you have a continuously moving system, you also attain regular release rates, which is possible if you detect failures and remedy these as soon as possible.

Since CI/CD merges code and deploys them to a non-production environment, it keeps the code updated and in a release-ready state. It's vital to have a non-production environment that closely resembles the production environment for end-users. One way to ensure this is through containerisation, which guarantees similar infrastructure across different environments.


It keeps your backlog small

When you incorporate CI/CD pipelines in your organisation's development process, you reduce non-critical defects before releasing the product to end-users. With this approach, developers can focus on more extensive problems, improve the system, and keep customers happy.


It allows faster MTTR or Mean Time To Repair

MTTR sets the average time it takes to repair broken features and helps you track the amount of time your system spends recovering from a failure. When you use CI/CD, you can reduce the MTTR since the code changes are smaller and deployment cycles are shorter.

One of the most important things for a business is keeping failures to a minimum and recovering from those that come up. You can make this more efficient by using application monitoring tools, which finds failures and allows you to make sense of trends of problems.


They facilitate better fault isolation

Designing systems in a way that limits adverse outcomes is called fault isolation. The goal is to contain the negative effect of such an error. Fault isolation helps reduce the potential for damage and creates more manageable systems.

When you have fault isolations and regularly monitor the system, you can identify when the fault happened and isolate the triggering event. With this type of approach, you minimise the likelihood of sudden breakdowns, critical issues, and system-wide problems.


They are cost-effective

Automating the CI/CD pipeline brings down the number of errors in the various steps involved in both CI and CD. It frees up developer time, which the team could spend on product development.


Conclusion

CI/CD offers various benefits, and many organisations have adopted it. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all response to software issues. When using this in your company, make sure you understand the benefits and risks it brings to your processes.

Team up with Fabric Group today if you're looking for innovative ways of delivering custom digital platforms that provide value. From delivering bespoke software solutions to guiding teams, we are always on top of evolving our clients' products and enabling growth. Get in touch with us today to learn more!

Related CONTENT

Sign up to our newsletter

Want to receive our blog posts on your email? Sign up here and we will regularly send you updates.

Tick (success) icon
Thanks for your message,
we will be in touch soon!
Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later.