Connecting CI pipelines with Git-based systems like GitHub and GitLab.
Version Control System (VCS) integration is the starting point for any CI/CD pipeline. The process begins when a developer commits code to a VCS like Git. Modern CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, and Jenkins are designed to seamlessly integrate with repositories hosted on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. This integration is typically achieved using webhooks. A webhook is a mechanism that allows the VCS to send a real-time notification to the CI/CD server whenever a specific event occurs, such as a 'push' to a branch or the creation of a 'pull request'. When the CI server receives this webhook payload, it automatically triggers the corresponding pipeline. This tight coupling ensures that every single code change is automatically built and tested, providing immediate feedback to the developer. Configuring this integration involves authorizing the CI/CD tool to access your repository and defining which repository events should trigger the pipeline. This automation removes the manual step of starting a build, enforces consistency, and ensures that no change goes untested. It's the fundamental trigger that sets the entire automated workflow in motion, making it an indispensable first step in setting up a CI pipeline.