Description: Automated build refers to the process of automatically creating a software build from source code. This process is fundamental in modern software development, as it allows developers to compile, test, and package their code efficiently and quickly. Automated builds rely on tools and scripts that manage various stages of the software lifecycle, from code compilation to the creation of production-ready artifacts. This not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of human errors, as repetitive and error-prone tasks are handled by automated systems. Furthermore, automated builds facilitate continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), practices that are essential in agile development environments. In summary, automated build is a key component in software engineering that enhances the efficiency, quality, and speed of application and system delivery.
History: Automated build began to gain popularity in the 1990s with the rise of object-oriented programming and agile development. Tools like Make, released in 1976, laid the groundwork for build automation, allowing developers to define how code should be compiled. Over time, more advanced tools such as Ant (2000) and Maven (2004) emerged, offering additional features for dependency management and building complex projects. In the last decade, automated builds have been integrated with DevOps practices and CI/CD, driving their adoption in development teams worldwide.
Uses: Automated builds are primarily used in software development to efficiently compile and package applications. They allow development teams to perform automated testing, ensuring that new code does not break existing functionality. They are also used in continuous integration, where code changes are automatically integrated and tested, and in continuous deployment, where applications are automatically deployed to production environments after passing tests.
Examples: Examples of automated build tools include Jenkins, which enables continuous integration and automation of build tasks, GitLab CI, which offers integrated CI/CD capabilities within the repository management platform, and Travis CI, commonly used in open-source projects to automate builds and tests on every code commit.
