Continuous Integration

5 minutes 5 Questions

The practice of continuous integration is about frequently integrating code changes into a shared repository. Each change is then automatically built and tested to catch bugs as quickly as possible. Developers integrate their work frequently - usually each person integrates at least daily. With CI, teams avoid the pitfalls of 'integration hell' where attempting to bring together different parts of the project proves to be a time-consuming challenge.

Guide to Continuous Integration for PMI-ACP XP Exam

What is Continuous Integration?
Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository several times a day. This practice is designed to detect and fix integration errors as quickly as possible. This practice is a key aspect of Extreme Programming (XP) and Agile methodologies in general.

Why is it important?
CI helps to maintain the quality of the code, improve communication between team members, and reduce the time to delivery. Because integration problems are detected and solved continuously, integration issues are typically smaller-scale and simpler, leading to fewer bugs, faster fixes, and more predictable delivery.

How does it work?
In a CI environment, developers regularly commit their code, often multiple times per day. Each commit triggers an automated build and test sequence for the given project, providing immediate feedback if the build or tests fail. This allows developers to detect and correct issues early, before they become more significant problems.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Continuous Integration
-When answering questions about CI, remember the key principles: frequent code integration, early error detection, and automated build and test.
-CI is primarily a practice for minimizing risk, not for speeding up software delivery.
-Questions may focus on how CI improves code quality, so understand its role in quality assurance, as well as the technical details of how it works.
-Understanding how CI fits into Extreme Programming and other Agile methodologies will help you answer questions about its role in the larger context of project management.

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Question 1

The development team of a software company is cautious about new code breaking the Continuous Integration (CI) build. They want to avoid integrating code that could potentially have conflicts with the existing codebase. What strategy could they use?

Perform manual code review before every commit Switch to a different CI tool Implement a pre-commit or pre-push hook to run tests Commit code less frequently

Correct Answer: Implement a pre-commit or pre-push hook to run tests

The development team of a software company is right to be cautious about breaking the Continuous Integration (CI) build. The most useful strategy in this case is to 'Implement a pre-commit or pre-push hook to run tests'. This allows the team to identify potential conflicts before the new code is merged into the existing codebase. Such a process helps in ensuring that the new code is flawless and ready to be integrated. Committing code less frequently may seem like a good option initially, but it can create a massive amount of conflicts when the code is eventually pushed, making it a less desirable solution. Moreover, manual code review before every commit is time-consuming and prone to human errors. Besides, switching to a different CI tool would not necessarily solve the issue as the problem lies not with the tool but the code integration process itself.

Question 2

The development team needs to minimize the risk of conflicts that may arise from merging code in the Continuous Integration process. What method should the team use?

Merge changes at the end of each sprint Merge small changes frequently Perform code reviews before merging Assign a dedicated team member for merging Use a separate branch for each team member Merge changes at the beginning of each day

Correct Answer: Merge small changes frequently

Merging small changes frequently reduces the risk of conflicts by allowing developers to address integration problems in smaller increments, while alternative approaches may not notably decrease risks.

Question 3

Which of the following should not be a part of a typical Continuous Integration pipeline?

Static code analysis Automated integration tests Automated unit testing Automated deployment to testing environment Manual code review Source code repository

Correct Answer: Manual code review

Continuous Integration pipeline should consist of fully automated processes. Manual code reviews, while essential in development, are not part of the Continuous Integration pipeline itself.

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