CI/CD pipelines play a major role behind software development process. Software developers can use CI/CD pipelines to integrate code, run tests, and deploy applications. It reduces manual intervention, along with human error. As a result, software developers can release new features fast. 

Back in the day, Jenkins was the most popular tool available among developers for implementing CI/CD workflows. It offered excellent flexibility and control. However, the popularity of Jenkins is going down with the rise of cloud computing and serverless technologies. As a result, newer tools such as AWS CodePipeline and GitHub Actions are getting popular among developers. These tools are more scalable and cost-effective when compared to traditional Jenkin-based setups. With that in mind, let’s deep dive and learn more about the evolution of CI/CD pipelines.

The Early Days – Jenkins and Traditional CI/CD Pipelines 

Jenkins was an open-source automation server, which helped software teams to build and test pipelines. Flexibility and robust ecosystem of plugins helped Jenkins to be the most popular tool for CI/CD. It was able to automate repetitive tasks such as code integration, unit testing, and deployment. This helped the developers to focus more on writing code, instead of managing architecture. 

Exploring the Architecture of Jenkins 

Jenkins operates based on master-slave architecture. In here, the “master” node keeps control of scheduling the jobs. In the meantime, “slave” nodes are executing those jobs on separate machines. Jenkin has an impressive library of plugins. As a result, it is possible to integrate Jenkins with almost any technology. That’s the main reason why Jenkins was ideal for complex CI/CD environments.

Challenges Associated with Jenkins 

It is true that Jenkins offered a high level of control. However, it introduced few significant challenges, specially when working on more complex workflows. One such challenge was the level of manual effort required when maintaining the Jenkins architecture. DevOps teams had to spend a lot of effort on updating servers, managing plugins, and handling security patches. While the pipeline is scaling, the DevOps engineers had to manage multiple nodes.  This eventually resulted in performance bottlenecks. Static infrastructure also created limitations on the dynamic scale of varying workloads. 

The Shift Towards Cloud-Native and Serverless CI/CD Pipelines 

What is Serverless CI/CD? 

Serverless computing is a paradigm where infrastructure is abstracted away from developer. It allows them to focus solely on writing code. In the context of CI/CD, serverless pipelines automatically manage infrastructure. It can also handle scaling and operate on a pay-as-you-go model. This helped DevOps teams to overcome the burden of managing infrastructure.

Advantages of Serverless Pipelines

One of the key advantages of serverless CI/CD solutions is scalability. Resources are automatically scaled based on the demand. It results in efficient handling of high workloads without requiring manual intervention. 

This flexibility helped to get rid of over-provisioning or under-utilizing servers. Additionally, serverless CI/CD platforms operate on a cost-efficient pay-per-use model. It removed the need to maintain idle servers when the pipeline is not in use.

Why Did the Shift Happen? 

The move towards serverless pipelines was driven by the increasing complexity of modern software systems. With the rise of microservices and containerized applications, traditional monolithic CI/CD tools like Jenkins began to show their limitations. DevOps teams needed tools that were more agile. They also preferred tools with less maintenance that could scale effortlessly with growing projects. This shift allowed developers to adopt more lightweight and cloud-native CI/CD pipelines. 

AWS CodePipeline: A Cloud-Native CI/CD Solution

AWS CodePipeline is the fully managed CI/CD service by Amazon. It enables developers to automate the build, test, and deployment stages of their applications. A great thing about AWS CodePipeline is that it integrates seamlessly with other AWS Services. CodeCommit, CodeBuild, and Lambda are to name a few. As a result, it simplifies the end-to-end CI/CD process in the cloud. AWS CodePipeline provides a graphical interface to define the pipeline steps with ease. 

Benefits of AWS CodePipeline 

  • Integration with AWS: Integration with the AWS ecosystem allows for a cohesive environment. It benefits the teams that use AWS with hosting and infrastructure.
  • Scalability: It scales automatically based on demand, while reducing concerns about resource allocation.
  • Monitoring and Security: It comes with built-in monitoring features using AWS CloudWatch. Hence, it is easy to track performance and ensure security.

Drawbacks of AWS CodePipeline

  • Vendor Lock-In: CodePipeline is tightly integrated with AWS. This can be limiting for teams using other cloud providers.
  • Cost: For teams with complex workflows or large volumes of builds, the pay-per-use model can become expensive.

GitHub Actions: The Modern CI/CD Tool

GitHub Actions is a CI/CD platform that enables developers to automate their workflows directly from their GitHub repositories. It helps developers to trigger builds, tests, and deployments in response to events such as commits or pull requests. Its serverless architecture ensures that developers don’t need to worry about infrastructure

Benefits of GitHub Actions 

  • Integrated with GitHub: GitHub Actions provides a seamless experience for teams that are already managing their codebase on GitHub. This removes the need to rely on external CI/CD services.
  • Flexible Configurations: Workflows are defined using YAML. Hence, it is easy to customize and version-control pipelines. Additionally, the GitHub Marketplace offers a wealth of pre-built actions to further extend functionality.
  • Cost-Effective for Small Teams: GitHub Actions provides a generous free tier. This is ideal for individuals who work on open-source projects or with small teams. 

Drawbacks of GitHub Actions 

  • Resource Constraints: GitHub Actions runners can face resource limitations. This is prominent with large-scale builds that can slow down workflows.
  • Pricing for Enterprises: Similar to AWS CodePipeline, the pricing model for GitHub Actions can escalate quickly for enterprises. This is a common scenario with frequent builds and large volumes of data.

Jenkins vs. Serverless CI/CD: A Comparative Analysis

Now you have a basic idea of Jenkins as well as the Serverless CI/CD platforms. With that in mind, let’s compare them in detail. 

Setup and Maintenance

Jenkins requires dedicated infrastructure, meaning teams need to manage servers, configurations, and plugins. This often translates to higher maintenance overhead. In contrast, serverless tools like AWS CodePipeline and GitHub Actions eliminate the need to manage servers or infrastructure, as they are fully managed by cloud providers.

Scalability 

While Jenkins can scale through master-slave configurations, this process requires manual intervention and careful management of resources. On the other hand, serverless pipelines automatically scale based on demand, making them more efficient for fluctuating workloads.

Cost Efficiency

Jenkins typically involves higher operational costs due to server maintenance, especially for larger teams. Serverless solutions follow a pay-as-you-go model, which can lead to significant cost savings, particularly when workloads are inconsistent.

Flexibility and Ecosystem

Jenkins boasts a rich plugin ecosystem, giving teams nearly unlimited customization options. However, serverless solutions like AWS CodePipeline and GitHub Actions are better suited for cloud-native workflows, integrating seamlessly with modern infrastructure like containers and microservices.

Final Words 

Now you have a clear idea about the evolution of CI/CD pipelines. Jenkins still offer powerful and customizable pipelines with its server-based architecture. However, the challenges with scalability and maintenance make software development teams go ahead with serverless CI/CD solutions. It helps them to operate more efficiently with seamless infrastructure management.

The Evolution of CI/CD: From Jenkins to Serverless Pipelines