apply at least one Continuous Integration (CI) approach with a team.

Continuous Integration (CI) is one of the major pillars of agile software development, particularly in the Scrum framework. It is an approach that maximizes the efficiency, collaboration, and control over the development process. As such, it is an essential competency for Advanced Certified Scrum Developers (A-CSD).

What is Continuous Integration?

Continuous Integration (CI) is a software development practice where developers regularly merge their code changes into a central repository, after which automated builds and tests are run. The key goals of Continuous Integration are to find and address bugs quicker, improve software quality, and reduce the time it takes to validate and release new software updates.

How can you apply Continuous Integration (CI) with a team?

To incorporate CI into a team’s development process, various tools and strategies can be utilized. Here is a step-by-step guide as per the standards of an Advanced Certified Scrum Developer (A-CSD).

Step 1: Decide upon the Version Control System (VCS)

The first step in setting up a CI environment is choosing a robust version control system. A VCS like Git allows developers to store different code versions, avoid code conflicts, and facilitate rapid and effortless code integration. It provides a record of all changes made in the code base, allowing the team to identify when and where issues crop up.

Step 2: Choose the right CI Tool

Selection of a CI tool is crucial. These tools manage the integration process, automating builds and providing reports on any integration failures. Examples of industry-standard CI tools are Jenkins, Bamboo, and Travis CI. The choice depends on various factors such as features, ease of use, integration with other tools and systems, and pricing.

Step 3: Automate the Build

The next step is to automate the build process. A build includes compiling source code, packaging compiled code into a binary, running automated tests, and creating documentation. This ensures that the application can be developed independently and delivered as a whole.

Step 4: Maintain a Green/Healthy Build

The build should be kept in a releasable state. If a developer commits changes that cause the build to fail, repairing it should be the top priority. Developers must be proactive in resolving these issues to avoid bottlenecks in the development process.

Step 5: Test Routinely

Testing in CI is continuous and happens at different levels – unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing. The goal is to discover and handle bugs as early as possible.

Step 6: Keep the Build Fast

CI requires frequent commits, and if builds take too long, it can delay other processes. Maintaining a rapid build time is crucial in preventing a backlog of unverified commits and maintaining high productivity.

Step 7: Make Deployment Repeatable and Reliable

The CI setup needs to focus on making the deployment process repeatable and reliable. Automated deployment tools are valuable for this purpose.

Application of CI in Scrum Teams

Scrum teams focus on delivering small chunks of software in short, time-boxed iterations called sprints, typically lasting two weeks. This aligns perfectly with a CI scenario. Each feature implemented during a sprint can be considered as a mini project, beginning with design and ending with integration. Developers on the Scrum team integrate their changes regularly, typically each day (or even more frequently). This coincides naturally with the regular feedback loops within Scrum, and enables the team to release any high-quality, working version of the software at any point, aligning with the Agile principle of sustainable and continuous delivery.

Summary

CI encourages consistent, automated testing and building to ensure software is always in a functional, shippable state. By integrating regularly, developers can detect errors quickly, and locate them more easily. It’s an integral practice for A-CSD to deliver high-quality software and meet the organisational goals effectively. Remember, the principle here is to build regularly, test often, fix bugs immediately, and deliver constantly and consistently.