Balance CI/CD trade-offs

When configuring CI/CD pipelines, balance comprehensive coverage and security with practical constraints like resource usage, tool compatibility, and project context. Avoid blindly applying best practices without considering their impact on functionality and efficiency.

Consider these trade-offs:

• Permissions: Start with minimal permissions but adjust when tools require broader access to function correctly
• Test matrices: Include comprehensive version coverage when possible, but prioritize the most critical versions when resources are limited
• Automation frequency: Match update intervals to your project’s actual needs rather than using default aggressive settings

Example from a GitHub workflow:

strategy:
  matrix:
    python-version:
      - "3.12"  # Primary version for most users
      # - "3.11"  # Commented out to save CI resources

Document your reasoning when making these trade-offs so future maintainers understand the decisions and can revisit them as constraints change.