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Software development is a journey.
It starts with planning, analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Software developers need various tools to use in this journey.
GitLab CI and Jenkins are among the biggest names in the continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) niche.
CI/CD is a set of processes automating software development.
This GitLab vs. Jenkins article will define each tool, explain how each works and compare their key features.
What is GitLab CI?
GitLab CI has two parts; Continous Integration (CI) and Continous Delivery/Deployment (CD).
Continuous Integrationis tasked with automating all builds.
This feature also provides feedback through code review and automates security and quality tests for your code.
Finally, CI creates a release package to deploy to your production environment.
TheContinuous Deploymentbit of the GitLab CI automatically provisions infrastructure and manages ticketing, infrastructure changes, and release versioning.
CD offers an environment for progressive code deployment and allows the verification and monitoring of all the changes made.
This feature also allows users to roll back changes whenever necessary.
Jenkinsis an extensible automation server.
This open-source tool helps users to manage and build Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
Jenkins runs a series of jobs or steps in a pipeline.
A job consists of several steps that are executed in a sequence.
These are some of the major areas;
Architecture
Jenkinsemploys a master-worker architecture to manage builds.
GitLab CI has various components;
Plugins
Jenkinshas over 1800 community-contributedplugins.
These plugins cover different areas, such as building, deploying, and automating projects.
Users can customize their CI/CD pipelines and extend Jenkins functionality.
Developers can create custom plugins with the help of Jenkins extensive documentation.
They can also build plugins and add them to Jenkins directory.
Jenkins has a large and active community that helps build plugins.
GitLab CIallows you toconnect/ integrate with external servicesfor enhanced functionality.
Its plugins/ extension library is smaller compared to Jenkins but growing.
As GitLab CI is part of GitLab, it comes with many built-in features.
Users can customize/ configure their workflows using the.gitlab-ci.ymlfile.
it’s possible for you to specify all the jobs, stages, and steps.
Pipelines
Jenkinsallows you to use both declarative and scripted pipeline syntax.
you could use any of the two approaches with web UI or a Jenkinsfile.
The latter is the most preferred.
you’re able to store its pipelines as Jenkinsfiles within the repository that stores the source code.
GitLab CIhas a.gitlab-ci.ymlthat defines all the pipelines.
This YML-based configuration file is stored in the projects root directory.
Download Java from theofficial website, depending on your operating system.
I will be using Ubuntu to demonstrate the installation process.
For Ubuntu, do these things;
Step 1:Check that JRE is installed.
Step 7:Modify thefirewalland Jenkins on your system.
The new window will prompt you to Install plugins.
I will be using Ubuntu to demonstrate the process.
If you have another operating system, check theofficial documentation.
Step 2:Add GitLab package repository
Step 3:Configure your GitLab account.
Step 4: Browse the hostname and access.
I will go for Jenkins if I want a more mature platform and complete control over customization.
We now believe you’ve got the option to tell the differences between GitLab CI and Jenkins.
You may now look at theseJenkins hosting platforms.
