What does the practice of Continuous Integration aim to improve?

The practice of Continuous Integration (CI) primarily aims to improve the quality and speed of software releases. CI involves the frequent integration of code changes into a shared repository, where automated testing is performed to catch issues early in the development process. This frequent integration ensures that bugs are identified and resolved faster, leading to higher-quality software. By automating testing and allowing for quick feedback cycles, teams can release software more rapidly and reliably.

In a CI environment, the development process becomes more efficient, as small, incremental changes are easier to test and deploy compared to larger, less frequent releases. This also minimizes the risks associated with integration, as developers can integrate their work consistently and identify conflicting changes sooner. Therefore, the emphasis on enhancing both the quality and speed of software releases is at the core of Continuous Integration practices.