CI/CD

CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (or Delivery), a cornerstone of modern software development that is highly relevant in PHP jobs. It refers to the automation of the build, testing, and deployment pipeline, enabling development teams to deliver code changes more frequently and reliably. Expertise in CI/CD is a valuable skill for any mid-level to senior PHP developer.

The Role of CI/CD in PHP Projects

Continuous Integration (CI) involves developers merging their code changes into a central repository frequently. Each merge triggers an automated build and a suite of tests (e.g., using PHPUnit, Pest) and static analysis tools (e.g., PHPStan, Psalm). Continuous Deployment (CD) automatically deploys the validated code to a production environment. This process minimizes manual errors and shortens the feedback loop.

Essential Tools and Skills

PHP developers working with CI/CD pipelines are expected to be familiar with a range of tools and concepts:

• CI/CD Platforms: GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, CircleCI, or Bitbucket Pipelines.
• Build Tools: Mastery of Composer for dependency management.
• Testing Frameworks: Proficiency with automated testing in PHP.
• Containerization: Understanding of Docker for creating consistent environments.
• Scripting: Ability to write pipeline configuration files, often in YAML format.