Which practice is commonly associated with continuous integration?

Continuous integration is a software development practice that emphasizes the frequent integration of code changes into a shared repository. The approach aims to detect integration issues early, improve software quality, and shorten the time between writing code and deploying it to production.

Regularly running automated tests is a cornerstone of continuous integration. This practice allows developers to verify that the new code does not break existing functionality and meets the specified requirements. By automatically running tests every time changes are made, teams ensure that integration happens frequently and smoothly, thus maintaining a reliable codebase and enabling quick feedback on code quality.

In contrast, postponing tests can lead to complications later in the development process, as potential issues may accumulate and be discovered at a more inconvenient time. Limiting code integration to only fully complete changes can delay feedback and extend the cycle time, which is contrary to the goals of continuous integration. Additionally, relying exclusively on manual code reviews can be time-consuming and introduce human error, whereas automated tests are systematic and consistent, thus supporting the overall CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipeline ideal.