11.9. Configuring a Continuous Integration (CI) Pipeline: Generating Artifacts
Continuous integration (CI) is a software development practice where members of a team integrate their work frequently, typically each person integrating at least daily — leading to multiple integrations per day. Each integration is checked by an automated build system to detect integration errors as quickly as possible. One of the main goals of CI is to provide rapid feedback so that if a defect is introduced into the code base, it can be identified and fixed as quickly as possible.
A CI pipeline is made up of several steps, which may include code compilation, automated testing, code quality analysis, and artifact generation. The generation of artifacts is a critical step, as it is the result of the code compilation process, which will later be deployed in test or production environments.
Defining Artifacts
Artifacts are files generated during the build process. They can include executables, libraries, packages, containers, test reports, and code coverage, among others. Artifact generation is the process of creating these files from source code.
Configuring the CI Pipeline for Artifact Generation
To configure a CI pipeline for generating artifacts, you need to follow a series of steps:
1. Environment Preparation
First of all, you need to ensure that the CI environment is configured with all the necessary tools to build the project. This may include compilers, build systems like Maven or Gradle for Java projects, npm for Node.js projects, among others.
2. Build Process Configuration
After preparing the environment, the next step is to configure the build process. This usually involves creating a configuration file (e.g. pom.xml for Maven, build.gradle for Gradle, package.json for npm) that defines how the project should be built.
3. Automating Tests
Testing is a crucial part of the CI pipeline and should be run before artifact generation to ensure code quality. This includes unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing.
4. Artifact Generation
After successful compilation and testing, the next step is to configure artifact generation. This is usually done through specific build tool commands. For example, with Maven, this can be done with the mvn package command, which generates a JAR or WAR file.
5. Artifact Storage
Once generated, artifacts need to be stored in a secure location. Many CI/CD tools offer their own artifact storage or integration with external repositories like Nexus or Artifactory.
6. Artifact Versioning
It is important to version artifacts to track which versions are in which environments. This is usually done via version tags or using SHA from Git commits.
7. Post-Build Cleanup
After generating artifacts, it is good practice to perform a cleanup of the build environment to ensure that the next build starts in a clean state.
Good Practices in Artifact Generation
There are several best practices that should be followed when configuring artifact generation in a CI pipeline:
- Reproducibility: The build process and artifact generation must be reproducible. This means that if you take the same source code and run the build, you should get the same artifact.
- Consistency: All artifacts must be generated in a consistent manner, regardless of where the build is run.
- Automation: The process must be fully automated, without the need for manual intervention.
- Security: Artifacts must be generated and stored securely, ensuring that they are not tampered with.
Conclusion
Setting up a CI pipeline for generating artifacts is a fundamental step in the software delivery process. Following the steps and best practices will ensure that artifacts are generated efficiently, securely, and consistently, allowing development teams to focus on delivering value rather than worrying about the build process.
