deployment pipeline
compound.compound. a set of automated steps that software goes through to get from a developer's computer to the real world. It helps teams test and release new features quickly and safely.
compound. an automated manifestation of the process for getting software from version control into the hands of users. It consists of a sequence of stages — such as building, testing, and deploying — designed to provide rapid feedback on code quality.
The new feature is stuck in the deployment pipeline.
Our team uses a deployment pipeline to ensure that every code change is automatically tested before it reaches the production server.
By implementing a robust deployment pipeline, the engineering department reduced lead times and ensured that any regressions were caught during the automated staging phase.
A compound of deployment, from the French déployer, and pipeline, originally referring to a conduit for fluids. The specific technical pairing was popularised by Jez Humble and David Farley in 2010.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in DevOps and software engineering contexts; often paired with 'automated' or 'continuous'.
Last updated July 22, 2026