An Intro to the What’s, Why’s & How’s of Jenkins!
What is Jenkins?
Jenkins is a self-sufficient, open source automation tool written in Java. Jenkins uses plugins to build & test your project code continuously, making new changes a laid-back approach for developers. Jenkins facilitates Continuous Integration; hence it is preferably installed on a server.
Why Jenkins?
Even mundane tasks can get complicated with a company’s growth however, when automated more energy can be focused towards its growth. Jenkins practices pipeline-as-a-code concept, that practices automation. Jenkins can handle both parallel and distributed builds.
What’s a Pipeline Approach?
Unlike the traditional approach, the pipeline doesn’t wait for the entire process to be completed to look into bugs and errors. This has been a game changer for developers. Jenkins supports over a thousand plugins to support and handle various software. Plugins can be installed, updated and removed through the Manage Plugins screen. Jenkins is highly extensible whose functionality can be extended through the installation of plugins. When working with Jenkins, the continuous build, integration and testing relative tasks associated with a project, is called the Pipeline. Pipeline manages the continuous delivery process. Because of this do not mistaken the pipelines to be stuck and ineffective, as they evolve throughout the projects. Jenkins has a ‘Jenkinsfile’ that handles creation and execution. A continuous delivery pipeline facilitates an automated expression that processes the software through Version Control to your users and customers. You can code simple or complex tasks via Pipeline DSL (Domain-specific Language).
The Actual Process
Now that you have become familiar with the process, let me provide you an insight of what actually happens.
Initially, a developer commits the code to the repository, where the server checks at routine intervals for new changes. If a code has been identified, then the new changes will be pulled, tested. After testing, Jenkins generates a feedback and that notifies the developer on the test results. The process keeps on repeating.
Another process you must be aware is the Continuous Integration (CI) in Jenkins, every CI build has to be verified before moving on to the next phase. A convenient way to do this is through automation. Continuous Delivery/Continuous Deployment (CD), a process similar to the software development lifecycle.
Before Jenkins
Before Jenkins, the development team, must test their code manually. Locating and fixing bugs after a test was difficult and time consuming, which delayed the entire delivery process. The quality of the software has been compensated.
After Jenkins
Jenkin achieves Continuous Integration with the help of well over 1000 plugins, that allows you to build, test and deploy on a continuous basis. Jenkins’s organization can aid firms with fast-track development and life-cycle process. The automation includes a static analysis and requires little to no maintenance once automated and has a built-in GUI for easy updates. Quality has become uncompromised.
Conclusion
With the multiple-choice options and plugins for build, integration, test or deploy available Jenkins, is a fantastic tool. Once a process has been automated, it requires comparatively less time to review and update meaning it can branch out and focus on working on its strong points or experiment in new fields.
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