What benefit does early detection of issues provide in continuous integration?

Early detection of issues in continuous integration is crucial because it plays a significant role in maintaining overall project efficiency and effectiveness. By identifying problems at an initial stage—when they are often less complex and less integrated into the broader codebase—developers can address and rectify these issues before they escalate into larger, more complicated problems.

This proactive approach results in several key benefits. Firstly, by resolving problems early, teams can save time that would otherwise be spent on fixing defects that have been carried over through multiple iterations. Additionally, fixing issues in the early stages usually incurs lower costs than addressing them later when they may have become more entrenched in the overall system. This is especially pertinent as later-stage resolutions may require extensive refactoring of the code—all of which can delay release timelines and increase the workload on developers.

Furthermore, maintaining a consistent pace of development without major disruptions supports smoother team dynamics and project flow, ultimately leading to more timely and efficient software releases. Thus, the advantage of early detection is substantial in terms of reducing both potential costs and delays, confirming why this choice is the correct answer.