Nightly build
Under nightly build , nightly snapshot or short Nightly refers to the software development an early during development, untested or interim version level of a software project. It represents a preliminary stage of continuous integration .
The nightly build is a build process that takes place automatically at night when it is unlikely that developers will work on the source code . This ensures that the source text can be translated without errors on the respective target platform. In addition, automatic test runs are usually carried out in order to be test -driven if the tests are sufficiently good . In contrast to permanent integration, the nightly build does not have to pay attention to short lead times, which is why automated regression tests can be carried out and complex quality metrics can be calculated. Additionally, when you can Nightly Build an installation ( deployment ) in the test or target environment are made.
Versions
Often you can find nightly builds in the open source area for download. These versions almost always get a new build number and sometimes a unique identification as a nightly build . However, the latest software changes and patches included cannot be assumed to have been adequately tested. As a rule, the use of a nightly build in a production environment is not recommended and instead a “stable version ” is referred to. However , it is not always possible to determine whether a software is a stable version or a nightly build based on the version number alone . In the documentation there is usually a reference to this, if available, in the changelog .