What is the role of "Continuous Integration" in the OutSystems development pipeline?

The role of "Continuous Integration" in the OutSystems development pipeline is to automate the process of integrating code changes and deploying applications efficiently. This practice allows developers to frequently merge their code changes into a central repository, where automated builds and tests are run. This integration helps to identify issues early, as any incompatibilities or bugs can be detected and resolved quickly.

By automating integration, developers minimize the time spent on manual processes, reducing the risk of human error and speeding up the release cycle. Continuous Integration fosters a collaborative environment where changes can be made small and incrementally, leading to more effective and efficient development practices. This approach fits seamlessly into the OutSystems platform, which emphasizes rapid application development and deployment, thus supporting agile methodologies.

In contrast, other options either focus on outdated manual processes, suggest delays in deployment, or address data backup strategies, which are not directly related to the core meaning of Continuous Integration in a development pipeline context.