CPA Version Control & DevOps Practices Flashcards

What is the purpose of a pull request (PR) in a team Git workflow?

Answer: To propose, review, and discuss code changes before merging a branch into the main codebase

A pull request is a mechanism for notifying teammates of changes, enabling code review, discussion, and automated checks before changes are merged.

In DevOps, what does 'shift left' testing mean?

Answer: Performing testing earlier in the development lifecycle to catch defects sooner

Shift-left testing means integrating testing activities earlier (further left on the timeline) so defects are found when they are cheapest to fix.

What does `git stash` do?

Answer: Temporarily shelves uncommitted changes so the working directory is clean

git stash saves your uncommitted work-in-progress changes to a stack and reverts the working directory to the last commit, allowing you to switch context.

What is a Docker image versus a Docker container?

Answer: An image is a read-only blueprint/template; a container is a running instance created from that image

A Docker image is an immutable blueprint containing the app and its environment; a container is a live, running instance spawned from that image.

What is the main benefit of using environment variables for configuration in a CI/CD pipeline?

Answer: They separate configuration from code, enabling the same artifact to run in different environments without modification

Environment variables decouple configuration (database URLs, API keys, feature flags) from code, so the same deployable artifact works in dev, staging, and production.

In Git, what does `git cherry-pick ` do?

Answer: Applies the changes introduced by a specific commit onto the current branch

git cherry-pick takes the changes from a specific commit and replays them on the current branch, creating a new commit with the same changes.