Jenkins: Introduction
It is an automation tool that is an open-source server and free to use. Jenkins manages the delivery process of software at every stage of the lifecycle, document, build, test, package, deployment, and code analysis.
It was created by developer Kohusuke Kawaguchi in 2004 when he was struggling with the code build break every time any update was done. Jenkins was developed for continuous integration.
It is used with build tools like Maven and Gradle, by utilizing container technology like Docker and Kubernetes.
What you need to know about Jenkins?
Jenkins is now a popular tool among DevOps engineers as it helps them in continuous integration and delivery. Jenkins has in-built plugins that enhance the functionality of projects. To start using this tool, there are many tutorials and pieces of training available.
Jenkins tutorial for beginners, as well as Jenkins tutorial for experienced, is available for those who are looking for a career in Jenkins and for those who want to increase efficiency in their work.
This training covers topics like Jenkins basics, installing Jenkins, creating jobs, pipelines, integration with Github, selenium, etc. to various CI/CD mechanisms.
The most important features of Jenkins
There are many benefits of using Jenkins that have made it so popular among developers. Here I am sharing some of the most important ones:
It is an open-source server and free to use for all users.
Jenkins is loaded with 1000+ built-in plugins that make jobs easier and manageable.
It is based on Java programming. hence can be used on any operating system platform like Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix.
Jenkins is the core of projects, that need automation. It is used as an orchestrator for deploying applications.
Project management is possible with accurate data support - When there is a project running in any organization, every team member wants to be updated on the status. With Jenkins, this is done effortlessly. The status of each part of the project along with the stipulated time is known.
Performance tuning and troubleshooting is done with Jenkins effortlessly. When a job is running, Jenkins captures the console output.
With Jenkins people in the project remains in sync. People are notified whenever any activity triggers. This enhances the communication environment.
Jenkins pipeline integrates each small job into a bigger one. With the pipeline, multiple jobs are clubbed together.
Continuous integration and continuous delivery are two most important factors for DevOps, as it is used for integrating multiple stages of the project. Although there are other CI/CD tools available in the market, But, due to the above-mentioned features, Jenkins is leading and popular among developers. Plugins, extensibility, and robust community are the pillars of Jenkins.