What is CI/CD?
CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment/Delivery.
It is a DevOps practice where code changes are automatically built, tested, and deployed instead of doing everything manually.
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CI ensures new code works with existing code
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CD ensures tested code reaches servers quickly and safely
Main Stages of a CI/CD Pipeline
1️⃣ Source (Git Commit)
Developers push code to GitHub or GitLab. This action automatically triggers the pipeline.
2️⃣ Build
The application is compiled, dependencies are installed, or a Docker image is created.
3️⃣ Test
Automated tests verify that the application works correctly and does not break existing features.
4️⃣ Deploy
The application is deployed to Dev, Test, or Production environments using servers, containers, or cloud services.
Popular CI/CD Tools Explained
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Jenkins – Open-source tool with thousands of plugins; widely used in enterprises.
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GitHub Actions – Cloud-based CI/CD built directly into GitHub repositories.
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GitLab CI – Integrated CI/CD that uses a simple YAML file and works seamlessly with GitLab.
Even though syntax differs, all tools follow the same CI/CD stages.
Simple CI/CD Workflow Example
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Developer pushes code
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CI/CD tool starts pipeline
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Tests are executed automatically
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Application is built and deployed
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Monitoring checks application health
Why CI/CD Is Important
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Reduces manual errors
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Speeds up software delivery
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Improves code quality
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Builds confidence in every deployment
🎯 Final Thought
CI/CD is not just a tool—it is a mindset of automation and continuous improvement.
Once you understand the flow, switching between Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI becomes easy.
