Improving flows with CI/CD pipelines
In Chapter 6, Launching the VSM Initiative (VSM Steps 1-3), through to Chapter 11, Identifying VSM Tool Types and Capabilities, we will use the concepts you learn in this section as a use case to introduce how you can use an eight-step VSM methodology to improve work and information flow across a CI/CD pipeline. However, before we get to that use case, we need to have a basic understanding of the purpose of a CI/CD pipeline, its component activities, and the complexities of implementing a fully integrated and automated toolchain. Those are the topics that we'll cover in this subsection.
CI/CD toolchains enable the pipeline flows of work items and information during the software development life cycle. Another helpful way to think about CI/CD pipelines is that they enable the implementation of Lean-oriented production concepts across IT value streams. Before we discuss the components of a CI/CD pipeline, let's review the purposes of...