What is the function of the GitLab CI Pipeline?

The function of the GitLab CI Pipeline is primarily to automate testing and deployment processes. Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice where developers regularly integrate their code changes into a shared repository, after which automated tests are run to ensure that the new code integrates well and does not break existing functionality. The GitLab CI Pipeline streamlines this process, allowing teams to define a sequence of stages and jobs that automate the building, testing, and deploying of their applications. By doing this, it helps ensure that code changes are reliable and can be quickly deployed to production, which enhances the overall efficiency of the development lifecycle.

The CI Pipeline enables developers to catch issues early in the development process, ensuring that code is tested in a consistent environment. It also minimizes the manual steps involved in deploying applications, allowing for faster feedback loops, higher quality code, and reduced time to market for new features or fixes. This automation is a key component of modern software development practices, aligning with agile methodologies and facilitating rapid, reliable delivery of software.