How often should the build be executed in a Scrum project?

In a Scrum project, the build should be executed whenever new or changed code is checked into version control. This practice ensures that integration issues are identified early, maintaining the health of the codebase. Frequent builds promote continuous integration, allowing the team to detect problems as they arise rather than accumulating them until the end of the Sprint.

This approach is vital in maintaining a stable and functional increment of the product throughout the development process. It also provides immediate feedback to developers about their changes and ensures that the product remains releasable at any moment by keeping the code in a deployable state.

Regular builds synchronize the work of team members, making it easier to address conflicts or bugs immediately, which can otherwise worsen over time. In this way, the practice aligns well with Scrum principles, emphasizing adaptability and responsiveness to change.

While there are merits to building at the end of a Sprint or based on the Product Owner’s discretion, these methods can lead to longer feedback loops and potential delays in identifying integration issues. Daily builds introduce unnecessary complexity and can lead to wasted resources if no changes are made. Thus, executing builds whenever code changes occur is the most effective practice.