Modern Continuous Integration (CI) systems significantly improve software development by enhancing collaboration, frequent integration, and constant code review, which in turn boosts software quality, security, and development speed. Harness's CI/CD platform exemplifies these advancements by shortening feedback loops and simplifying complexity, thus increasing developer confidence and reducing risk. Historically, build systems have evolved from tools running locally on developer machines to sophisticated CI systems that integrate best practices for software development. The distinction between build systems and CI lies in their focus: while build systems are often isolated to a developer's environment, CI systems facilitate frequent code merges into a central repository where automated builds and tests occur. The evolution of CI, championed by figures like Kent Beck and Martin Fowler, prioritizes collaboration and frequent, automated integration to prevent merge conflicts and enhance software delivery. Modern CI platforms, like Harness, aim to create a seamless developer experience by providing a self-serve pipeline that adapts to both local and cloud environments, reducing the economic and logistical challenges associated with running extensive tests and processes.