What is Continuous Integration Testing?

Continuous Integration Testing (CI Testing) is a development methodology in which code changes by a multi-member developer team are incorporated into a shared code repository on a high-frequency basis and subsequently tested. The objective of this technique is to eliminate integration errors as they arise to maintain a stable codebase throughout development.

Key Features of Continuous Integration Testing

• Frequent Code Integration: In CI Testing, developers can integrate code changes into a shared code repository multiple times each day. Following each integration, automated builds run a test suite to verify the codebase's state of integrity, or health, through testing.
• Automated Build Features: To reinforce Continuous Integration, the system is able to build the code base, producing an executable file, meaning the code base is potentially always deployable.
• Automated Tests: After developers commit changes or updates to the code repository, automated test suites are executed against the updated code base, in order to discover and identify whether any errors or regressions are introduced into the system. The development team clearly receives a notification that not all tests have passed testing if the test process fails.
• Version Control: A version control system captures all changes, updating track, while also providing the full history they've created throughout the project process, which is especially useful for debugging.

Benefits of Continuous Integration Testing

• Early Error Detection: Frequent testing allows teams to catch bugs early, reducing debugging time and costs.
• Improved Collaboration: CI is a technique that emphasizes teamwork and can reduce disagreements amongst development-style team members.
• Shorter Feedback Loop: When tests are automatically bounded and complete, code can be sent through integration more quickly.
• Continuous Testing: Continuous integration testing enables continuously testing the code often to ascertain the code will be strong and function effectively as the codebase continues to develop.

Best Practices

• Test-Driven Development (T.D.D), meaning that tests are written prior to the code.
• Maintain a high level of testing coverage, to continuously validate the entire codebase.
• Running tests locally, before code commits into the shared code repository, to ensure that failure does not break the build.

Continuous Integration Testing has become established as a development process corner-stone, associated with the DevOps practice that are linked to fluid processes, while delivering high quality code.