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.