Enhancing Real-Time Communication with ChatApp and Streamlined CI/CD Pipelines
Table of contents
ChatApp: A Closer Look
At the heart of ChatApp lies a powerful combination of technologies, including Express, Socket.io, and HTTP, all working together to create a seamless chatting experience. The setup process is simple and straightforward, allowing users to get started with ease.
Upon joining ChatApp, users are greeted with a user-friendly interface and the option to create or join chat rooms. This flexibility allows for dynamic conversations and fosters a sense of community among users. Plus, with features like automatic room cleanup and customizable server configurations, ChatApp ensures a smooth and hassle-free experience for all. You can access it all using github repo url given below.
Now onto CICD using Jenkins
Create an Ubuntu T2 Large Instance
To kickstart our project, we begin by launching an AWS T2 Large Instance, using Ubuntu as the operating system. This instance provides the necessary infrastructure for our project's development and deployment.
Install Jenkins, Docker
a) Install Jenkins: After accessing the instance, we install Jenkins by updating the system and fetching the Jenkins repository key. Then, we install Jenkins using the apt package manager. Once installed, we start the Jenkins service and configure it to run on port 8080. This step enables us to access Jenkins via our instance's public IP address.
b) Install Docker: Next, we install Docker to enable containerization of our application. Docker allows us to package our application and its dependencies into portable containers, ensuring consistency across different environments. We also configure Docker to run on our instance.
Install Plugins and Configure Tools
We enhance the functionality of Jenkins by installing essential plugins like JDK, Sonarqube Scanner, and OWASP Dependency Check. These plugins enable us to perform automated code analysis, security scanning, and dependency checks. Additionally, we configure Java Development Kit (JDK) and Maven in the Global Tool Configuration to provide the necessary tools for our pipeline.
Create a Pipeline Project in Jenkins
We set up a Pipeline project in Jenkins using Declarative Pipeline syntax. This project serves as the backbone of our CI/CD process, orchestrating the steps from code integration to deployment. The Pipeline defines the stages of our workflow, including code checkout, dependency scanning, and deployment.
Configure Sonar Server in Manage Jenkins
We integrate Sonarqube with Jenkins by configuring the Sonar Server in the Manage Jenkins settings. This configuration enables Jenkins to connect to our Sonarqube instance for code analysis and quality checks. We generate an authentication token in Sonarqube and add it as a secret text credential in Jenkins for secure communication between the two platforms.
Additional Configuration and Deployment
The remaining steps involve additional configuration tasks such as installing the make package, building Docker images, deploying the application using Docker, accessing the deployed application, and finally terminating the AWS EC2 instance once the project is complete.
In summary, these steps outline the setup and configuration process of our CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins, Docker, and other essential tools. Each step plays a crucial role in automating our development workflow and ensuring the efficiency and security of our project.
