Best CI/CD Tools

Continuous delivery is a somewhat confusing and debated term, but traditionally it is described as an approach to software production.

What is Continuous Delivery?

Continuous delivery (CD) is a software production method to get all changes of any type (such as new product features, configuration changes or updates, bug patching and testing —into production, or into the hands of users, in a fast, secure, and scalable way.

The overall concept includes continuous delivery and integration, paired with build automation and configuration management. The process is similar to DevOps, but a bit more specified. It functions around a series of tests, approval, and releases. Each time a change is made, a build takes place and a test is run. The results are returned to the development team and approved or denied. Changes can be released instantly using continuous integration tools, or held off until a specified time. Businesses use this method and these tools to create a seamless user experience when updating applications and software products.

Continuous deployment tools are the largest and most dynamic tools included in this category; many provide tools to complete each step in the continuous delivery process. These are the tools that allow teams to deploy instantly as each change is made, rather than wait until multiple updates take place, then deploying them as a group. This automates the entire process, but is not intended for teams who want stricter analytics on deployment effectiveness. Continuous deployment tools are intended for those who want truly seamless, constantly updated software applications.

This development practice, and the tools enabling it, let's development teams and individuals to “check-out” portions of code from a repository. The code can be edited, changed, and updated; it is eventually “checked-in,” verified, and integrated into the overall application. This reduces the need for teams to set time aside for long, bulky integrations and software updates. The process requires multiple developers and ensures quick, significant changes that are quickly integrated into applications.

Build automation tools provide a similar development process as continuous integration tools, but limit their capabilities to only before integrating updates into your application. Developers still follow the same process. Code is still compiled, built, and tested; changes still require approval. But the products do not allow the same kind of triggers that automatically put changes into place. The products permit only the first step to automating the continuous delivery process.

Configuration management, sometimes called IT automation, reduces the burden placed on development teams to ensure the current state of an application is the intended one. These tools keep documented historical records of changes made during the continuous delivery process, and present details about the application's current state and performance. Essentially, configuration management means version management and benefits application performance control.

Buying Considerations for Continuous Delivery Software

1. SaaS v.s. Self-Hosted: Prior to selecting a product, you must decide whether you want a SaaS (software as a service) or self-hosted software tool. SaaS tools maintain your server for you and give your staff more time to concentrate on other aspects of development. Though self-hosted tools require more time for server maintenance and control, they allow for more customization and overall data security. Choose the type of product that best fits the needs of your company and narrow your search from there.
2. Integration: Many continuous delivery products offer compatibility with a variety of software tools such as app distribution and deployment and computer management. Connecting third-party tools with your continuous delivery tool allows you to streamline the delivery process, as well as collect all of your tools in a centralized platform. If you plan on utilizing other tools along with your continuous deployment software tool, look into the integration capabilities of the product you choose.
3. Testing features: The main difference between continuous delivery and continuous deployment tools is that continuous delivery requires testing or approval prior to launching updates, as opposed to the automated nature of continuous deployment. Manual testing requires more time and energy to complete, so utilize a product that offers more automation features to speed up the testing process. Some products also provide other testing features, such as customer feedback tools, that allow you to further understand customer responses. Ideally, the testing period will be as fast and effective as possible to update your product as soon as you can.
4. Update monitoring: Your continuous delivery tool will allow you to make constant updates to your product following the testing stage. After the update is made, it is important to monitor the updated feature and ensure that it is functioning well. Use monitoring features to catch any incorrect modifications or faulty updates before they affect customer use. This will improve overall customer satisfaction and reduce the chance that issues may arise.
5. Security: Continuous delivery software has the capability to drastically change products. As a result, you want a product that is secure and will avoid accidental modifications. Choose a product that allows you to control user access and select staff members of your that have the ability to make certain changes to your product. A strong security system is essential to having complete control of your software tool and ensuring that only the proper changes are made.

With continuous delivery software, you can:

• Efficiently test possible updates
• Utilize real-time updates of codes and software
• Monitor updates to ensure functionality
• Receive feedback on changes and alterations