Safe schema updates - Continuous Integration is misunderstood

Continuous Integration (CI) is often misunderstood as merely involving automated builds and tests, but its core purpose is to reduce work in progress and avoid large, complex merges by integrating changes frequently and incrementally. This practice emphasizes breaking down broader goals into smaller, independently deliverable tasks, ensuring minimal risk upon release by validating integrated changes as a whole. While automated builds and testing are essential, CI is fundamentally a project management issue that involves managing development, testing, and deployment efforts to eliminate integration challenges. The article argues that CI should prioritize merging over diverging, advocating for trunk-based development and frequent, small integrations, which contrasts with traditional approaches that involve lengthy integration phases fraught with the risk of "load-bearing bugs." It also highlights the importance of understanding CI in its broader sense to properly address challenges related to database architecture, including loose coupling and Domain-Driven Development (DDD), which facilitate the creation of safe and resilient IT systems.