1. Introduction of CI/CD Concepts

1.1 Continuous Integration (CI)

CI is a software development practice where developers frequently merge code changes into a shared repository. Each time code is added, it is automatically verified by building the application and running tests to detect errors and conflicts early.

Why it is important:

• Finds Errors Early: Helps to spot errors quickly.
• Keeps Codebase Stable: Ensures that the application remains in a stable state throughout development.
• Speed Up Development Process: Helps the team work faster and better together.

1.2 Continuous Deployment (CD)

It extends CI by automatically deploying code to various environments (e.g., development, staging, production) once it passes all the tests. CD ensures that the application is always deployable, enabling rapid and reliable releases.

Why it is important:

• Fast Updates: Facilitates rapid addition of new features and bug fixes.
• Reliable Deployment: Ensures that code is consistently and reliably deployed across all environments.

1.3 Overview of the Calculator Mock Project

In this course, we will be working with a simple calculator application as our mock project. The calculator project will help us understand how CI/CD pipelines work in a real-world scenario.