How do you manage risks and changes in continuous deployment vs continuous delivery?

Continuous integration (CI) is the practice of automating the integration of code changes from multiple contributors into a single software project. It’s a primary DevOps best practice, allowing developers to frequently merge code changes into a central repository where builds and tests then run. Automated tools are used to assert the new code’s correctness before integration. A source code version control system is the crux of the CI process. The version control system is also supplemented with other checks like automated code quality tests, syntax style review tools, and more.

In Agile Web Development, managing risks in continuous deployment versus delivery hinges on robust CI practices. Frequent integration of changes into a shared repository helps detect issues early and maintain code quality. My experience has shown that a solid CI setup, with effective version control, automated tests, and code analysis, is pivotal. It ensures that new code does not disrupt the existing system, facilitating smoother transitions to either deployment or delivery models. This approach minimizes conflicts and promotes a culture of continuous improvement, which is crucial for navigating the dynamic landscape of web development.

First of all, a good practice is to have several environments to test changes and assure the quality of the code . For example, a test environment and a P-1 environment (very close to production) are part of a very good strategy. Second, regression testing should be part of CI. It’s highly recommended to assure the integrity of the system in lower environments before integrating changes in production. Finally, performing user acceptance testing is a must to assure that our customers are having the same user experience as before any CI changes.

Continuous integration (CI) is a cornerstone of modern Agile web development, promoting a culture of frequent, small, and manageable updates that significantly reduce integration issues. By committing code often, developers can minimize the risk of divergent code paths and complex merges. The practice of CI, when properly implemented with a robust suite of automated tests, ensures that new code contributions do not break existing functionality, thereby maintaining the integrity and stability of the application throughout the development lifecycle.

Continuous integration (CI) is the regular and frequent merging of code changes made by many developers into a common repository, typically occurring numerous times within a day. This facilitates the early detection and resolution of errors, prevents disputes, and guarantees the quality of the code. Continuous integration (CI) also encompasses the execution of automated tests and code analysis tools to ensure that the code adheres to the established standards and requirements. Continuous Integration (CI) necessitates the presence of a robust version control system, a dedicated CI server, and a comprehensive test suite.

The main benefit is for our customers who can perceive business value continuously. The main downside is when things don’t work as expected the speed of delivery can cause technical debt.

Agile & Scrum are all about experimenting, learning, failing, and improving along the way. Failure is necessary for improvement, so this process may start by failing and improve as the team gets the knowledge to make it work. For example, for the first few sprints, the CI process will be quite challenging and teams may fail to do it properly without bugs and customer impact, however, the Scrum will learn from what works and what doe not to improve the CI process.

Continuous Integration (CI) is foundational in managing risks by ensuring that code changes are automatically tested and merged frequently. Continuous Delivery (CD) extends CI by ensuring that code is always in a deployable state, allowing for quick releases. Continuous Deployment takes this further by automatically deploying every change that passes the pipeline. The choice between CD and Continuous Deployment hinges on the team's comfort with automated releases and the need for manual checks due to regulatory or business considerations. Adopting these practices requires a robust testing framework and a culture that embraces monitoring and rapid iteration.