Modern development of continuous cycle applications has now become the standard of reference for all companies. Its evolution is proceeding quite decisively, giving a clear reference to companies. The benefits of CI/CD are significant and lead to the integration of numerous tools into the overall pipeline.
The adoption of the continuous integration, continuous delivery methodology proposes several improvements to previous software development. An even more important contribution is the introduction of a point of view, a completely new mindset for all interested elements in the company. Furthermore, as the importance of supply chains grows, this mindset is increasingly penetrating related companies as well.
This is why the correct implementation of a CI/CD pipeline requires explicit ongoing training but above all ongoing osmosis between different teams.
There are many tools available today that are perfect for the CI/CD pipeline: each one draws on skills that can come from any origin (language, methodology), bringing ever-new experts to the team. Today it is not uncommon to see a continuous integration, continuous delivery pipeline built from 10 to 20 different tools and services, in cloud mode, with a different level of open source, each with its own ecosystem of plug-ins.
Certainly, continuous development today allows for careful time and cost planning in the development of applications of any size within companies and organizations of any kind. The “continuity” mechanism allows for endless improvement due to the fact that of the four phases (integration, delivery, deployment and monitoring) the last one connects to the first and the cycle is relaunched without stopping, as it once was.
The qualities of the CI/CD pipeline are so broad that they attract even long-established companies that have so far developed with traditional approaches and that find it useful to migrate their current methodology towards continuous development. Some attention is appropriate, such as the number of tools and the importance of cybersecurity
What is the CI/CD Pipeline Methodology
The Pipeline CI/CD (continuous integration and continuous delivery) methodology is a fundamental pillar in modern software development that emphasizes continuous integration (CI) of code and its constant and efficient delivery (CD), facilitating a faster and more responsive software development cycle. This methodology allows developers to frequently implement small changes, reducing release times and improving product quality. The CI/CD pipeline uses a variety of tools and services, typically in a cloud environment, that automate and streamline testing and deployment processes, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement, allowing development teams to respond nimbly to market needs and changing demands. Its implementation leads to greater efficiency, resilience, and scalability in the development process, essential for agility and competitiveness in the current technological landscape.
CI/CD Pipeline: When Number Doesn’t Make Strength
The richness of the CI/CD pipeline and the continuity of the cycle are certainly advantages at the construction stage, but they also hide disadvantages.
The number of tools, for example, if exaggerated, leads to manageability problems. This kind of complexity is impossible to track manually today.
The first consequence is in the fluidity between the various release cycles. It must be kept in mind that a barely complex project is divided into several subprojects, each of which could hide (for example in the development or automatic testing) the cumbersome aspects already within the specific cycle, and even more so in the integration with the cycles of the other subprojects.
Security from the supply chain attack
The safety effects of standardizing development and automation tools within homogeneous production environments must also be considered. This situation is increasingly occurring across entire supply chains, where the same tool ends up in the pipelines of several players in the production chain.
Obviously, spreading the same development tool across a chain of companies involves exposing the environment, code, secrets, and network through individual tools and each of their plug-ins. We live in an age where cyberattacks, both external and internal, are more organized than most companies, organizations, or infrastructure that fall victim to them. The continuous integration and continuous delivery pipeline, when not properly developed, can also bear some responsibility for the infiltration of malicious agents.
To prevent this from happening, the DevOps approach is not enough. Security experts must closely observe pipeline dependencies to identify and respond to vulnerabilities and attacks against such additional services and tools.
Each time a new service is connected to the pipeline, these services must be constantly checked and monitored for vulnerabilities or suspicious activity. Any suspicion should automatically trigger an alert to appropriate stakeholders who need to verify the integrity of the service and ensure that there are no risks associated with it.
It is often advisable to bring these skills within development teams, leading the company towards a SecOps or DevSecOps culture.
Tips for implementing the CI/CD Pipeline
How to effectively implement a continuous integration and continuous delivery pipeline? These are the key tips:
- Careful tool selection: choose the right tools, taking into account their compatibility and integration into the CI/CD ecosystem;
- Continuous Team Training: Invest in continuous team training to ensure effective pipeline use and understanding of CI/CD processes;
- Collaboration between different teams: promote a culture of collaboration and synergy between the various teams to maximize efficiency;
- Constant monitoring and feedback: Implement monitoring systems for continuous feedback, essential for the iterative improvement of processes and products;
- Security focus: Ensure that security is integrated into every stage of the pipeline, from code security considerations to automated security testing.
These steps help build a robust, adaptable, and secure CI/CD pipeline that is critical for developing quality software in a rapidly evolving technology environment.