We all know that Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) is an essential component of DevOps. But despite having lots of CI/CD tools in the market, the Java-based open-source Jenkins seems to be the most popular choice. Jenkins automates the build, test, and deployment phases of software projects, allowing for continuous integration and delivery. Let’s take a quick glance on how Jenkins works and why you should use this CI/CD tool for your projects.
How Jenkins Work
Jenkins can be set up to run a set of unit tests to make sure that the commit doesn’t “break the build”. If the tests fail, the developer can be notified as soon as possible so that he or she can solve the problem. But if all of the unit tests pass, the build process can move on to the integration tests, which take longer to complete.
Jenkins will let you execute a build on numerous machines simultaneously, reducing the amount of time it takes to perform many of these tasks. Before releasing the build into production, Jenkins can deploy it to an environment that allows for any necessary user acceptance testing (UAT). The ethos of a continuous integration (CI) environment is embodied in these streamlined processes.
Why Exactly Should You Use Jenkins For CI/CD?
Now before you join the growing community of Jenkins users, it’s important to know why you should use Jenkins by weighing the pros and cons of using it for CI/CD. With that said, here are some factors to look into:
Pros:
- It’s a free application preferred by both start-up and well-established businesses.
- Jenkins Pipelines are a great way to meet large-scale project CD requirements.
- It boasts an extensive plugin ecosystem
- Many prominent cloud platforms, including Amazon EC2, Google Cloud, VMWare vSphere, and Digital Ocean, can be linked with Jenkins.
Cons:
- Some changes you set, including plugin installations, might result in issues like Jenkins failing to start up. Lucky for you, the large Jenkins community makes it easier to find solutions online.
- Jenkins is a more developer-centric solution and a feature-driven tool. Users might have to go through a steep learning curve to be able to use it.
But that’s all the more reason to get a comprehensive Jenkins workshop and certification! As always, Trainocate delivers reliable training courses to get you familiarized with the Jenkins Continuous Integration System. While you’re at it, sign up for other DevOps-related training and certifications from Trainocate and further improve your testing abilities!
