## TL;DR

Continuous Integration (CI) is the practice of frequently merging code changes into a shared repository, with automated builds and tests running on each merge. CI catches integration problems early, within minutes of a commit. Core CI practice: commit to mainline at least daily, fix broken builds immediately.

## Core Explanation

CI pipeline: commit → build → unit tests → integration tests → code analysis → artifact creation. Broken build is top priority to fix (Kent Beck: 'stop the line'). Benefits: reduced integration risk, faster feedback, consistent build process, automated quality gates. CI + CD (Continuous Delivery/Deployment) together form the CI/CD pipeline. Tools: GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI.

## Further Reading

- [Continuous Integration (Martin Fowler, 2006)](undefined)