What is continuous integration?

Continuous integration is a development practice that emphasizes the frequent integration of code changes into a shared repository. This process involves automatic testing and merging of the code changes to ensure that they integrate smoothly with the existing codebase. The primary objective is to detect and address integration errors as early as possible, thereby improving software quality and reducing the time taken to develop new features.

By employing continuous integration, teams can automate the testing process, which leads to quicker feedback on the code's integrity. As new code is added, any issues can be surfaced promptly, allowing developers to make immediate corrections. This practice fosters a collaborative environment where code is continuously improved and updated, ultimately enhancing the development workflow and producing more reliable software products.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the core principles of continuous integration. Some emphasize manual processes or code creation in isolation, which do not align with the idea of continuous integration’s focus on automation and teamwork.