Strategy
Continuous Delivery
Also known as: CD & Continuous Delivery
Plain English
Always ready to glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term updates.
Definition
Continuous glossaryDeliveryDelivery is the process of building, testing, and releasing a product or feature.Open glossary term is the practice of automatically preparing code for glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term so it can be deployed at any time.
In practice
glossaryBuildA build is the process of compiling and packaging code into a runnable application.Open glossary term on glossaryContinuous IntegrationContinuous Integration is the practice of frequently merging code changes into a shared repository with automated testing.Open glossary term by ensuring code is always in a deployable state.
In context
It changes what a glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term means. When shipping is routine, glossaryFeatureA feature is a specific piece of functionality within a product that delivers value to users. It represents something users can do or experience as part of the overall product.Open glossary term stop being bundled into events and start going out when they are ready.
The reality
Many teams claim CD but still rely on manual glossaryProcessA process is a defined sequence of steps used to achieve a specific outcome.Open glossary term.
Compared with
Continuous Delivery vs Continuous Deployment
Continuous glossaryDeliveryDelivery is the process of building, testing, and releasing a product or feature.Open glossary term keeps every glossaryBuildA build is the process of compiling and packaging code into a runnable application.Open glossary term ready to glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term, with a human deciding when. Continuous deployment releases automatically once tests pass. One is a capability; the other is a policy built on it.
FAQ
Common questions
A few practical answers to the questions that usually come up around this term.
What is continuous delivery?
It ensures code is always ready for glossaryDeploymentDeployment is the process of releasing software or updates to a live environment.Open glossary term.
How is CD different from CI?
glossaryContinuous IntegrationContinuous Integration is the practice of frequently merging code changes into a shared repository with automated testing.Open glossary term focuses on glossaryIntegrationIntegration is the process of connecting different systems, tools, or services to work together.Open glossary term, CD focuses on glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term readiness.
Why is CD important?
It enables faster and safer glossaryReleaseA release is the point at which a product or feature is made available to users. It marks the transition from development to real-world use and often involves deployment, communication, and monitoring.Open glossary term.
What is a common issue?
Manual steps slowing down glossaryDeliveryDelivery is the process of building, testing, and releasing a product or feature.Open glossary term.
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