Understanding CI/CD Pipelines
A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding CI/CD Pipelines
Introduction
CI/CD, or Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery, is a set of practices that automates the process of software development. This article explores the key differences between declarative and scripted pipelines and guides you through creating a basic CI/CD pipeline.
Declarative vs. Scripted Pipelines
Declarative pipelines define what needs to be done, while scripted pipelines define how it should be done. Declarative pipelines are often preferred for their readability and maintainability.
Do You Know?
Declarative pipelines are typically more concise and easier to understand than their scripted counterparts.
# Example of a declarative pipeline (YAML syntax)
stages:
- build
- test
- deploy
jobs:
build:
stage: build
script:
- npm install
test:
stage: test
script:
- npm test
deploy:
stage: deploy
script:
- npm publish
Important Note
The specific syntax for declarative pipelines varies depending on the CI/CD tool used (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions).
Hands-on: Creating a basic CI/CD pipeline
Let's create a simple pipeline that builds, tests, and deploys a Node.js application. This example uses a hypothetical CI/CD platform.
Avoid This
Hardcoding sensitive information (like passwords or API keys) directly into your pipeline scripts. Use environment variables instead.
# Example pipeline script (Bash)
#!/bin/bash
npm install
npm test
npm run deploy
This script assumes you have a deploy script defined in your package.json.
Summary
- Declarative pipelines describe the desired outcome, while scripted pipelines detail the steps.
- Declarative pipelines often lead to better readability and maintainability.
- Consider security best practices when creating CI/CD pipelines (e.g., using environment variables).