Continuous Integration (CI) has become an essential part of modern software development, and for good reason. It ensures code quality, speeds up development, and catches potential issues early. However, you can get started without an elaborate CI setup. Even a minimal CI setup can significantly improve your workflow. Here’s why every project should have at least minimal CI and how to implement it effectively using GitHub Actions.
What Constitutes Minimal CI?
For a project to benefit from CI without excessive complexity, it should include the following essential components:
1. Project Compilation: Verify that the codebase is always in a buildable state.
2. Unit Test Execution: Ensure the core functionality works as expected.
3. Static Code Analysis: Catch bugs and enforce coding standards before they become an issue.