Introduction
Modern application development relies on rapidly building reliable products that meet user needs. DevOps and Agile have made it possible for development teams to build and update products that evolve alongside user expectations. CI/CD (continuous integration, continuous deployment) also plays a critical role in updating applications to meet expectations. Before you can reach that goal, though, you must learn about the CI/CD tools and how they can benefit you.
Packagecloud works seamlessly with the tools you already rely on. Start your free trial with Packagecloud so you can see how it improves your CI/CD process.
What Is CI/CD and Why Should You Embrace It?
Today’s tech ecosystems often include a lot of languages, operating systems, and machines that don’t integrate with each other easily. That situation could force developers to put in a lot of work just to make sure users have essential updates for their apps. CI/CD simplifies the process by automated steps and delivering agnostic code that works in most environments.
By embracing CI/CD, you should see benefits like:
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Increased app adoption
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Fewer work hours committed to optimizing apps
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Updated apps with features users want or need
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Easy ways to correct mistakes during early versions of your apps
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A continuous process that acknowledges the changing nature of technology
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Flags that alert you to potential coding problems
If you want to save time and improve your product’s performance, you should take a closer look at how CI/CD can benefit you and your team. Of course, having the best CI/CD tools will make your processes even more reliable.
Related reading: Ten Must Have DevSecOps Tools.
The Best CI/CD Tools
Every CI/CD tool should have automated features that generate, test, and deploy code. The best CI/Cd tools go beyond the basics by giving you options such as ample integrations, customized alerts, and workflow templates. The following five CI/CD tools stand out as some of the best.
Related reading: Top 5 Best DevOps Tools.
Regardless of the CI/CD tool you choose, you can make it even more effective with help from Packagecloud. Start your free trial to see how Packagecloud can make your CI/CD processes even faster and more reliable.
Jenkins
Jenkins is an open-source tool that can work on Windows, macOS, and Unix operating systems. Jenkins takes a highly modular approach to work. The plugins you choose from a vast library (more than 1,400 options) help determine what features Jenkins gives you.
Some of the features that make Jenkins indispensable for many development teams include its:
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User-friendly interface that makes configuration easy
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Customizable build schedules
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Build status notifications that keep you informed
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Primary-secondary architecture that supports distributed builds
GitLab
GitLab is much more than a single tool. It’s a suite of CI/CD tools and other features that assist throughout application development lifecycles. GitLab offers plenty of flexibility. For example, you can run in a Docker container or virtual machine.
Features that make GitLab one of the top CI/CD tools include its:
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Static application security testing
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Automated builds that can verify source codes and test integrations before delivering updates
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Dynamic application security testing
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Code repository that helps colleagues and partners collaborate
Buddy
Buddy advertises itself as “The easiest CI/CD. Ever.” It certainly has the functionality to back up that claim. You can use it in coordination with code from GitLab, Bitbucket, and GitHub. You can use it to deploy websites and applications. It even comes with pre-installed languages to get you started quickly.
Other features that make Buddy one of the best CI/CD tools include its:
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Unlimited history logs
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Real-time monitoring to keep you informed of every step
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Customizable Docker images that you can use as test environments
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Lengthy list of integrations
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Workflow management that comes with multiple templates to fit diverse projects
CircleCI
CircleCI builds, tests, and deploys updates as scheduled or needed. It integrates with Bitbucket, GitHub, and GitHub Enterprise, so it primarily appeals to developers who already use those services. It’s also an incredible quick tool that automates, tests, and deploys code much faster than a person could.
Other features that make CircleCI a stand-out tool include its:
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IM and email notifications to keep you updated the way you prefer
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Ability to use containers or virtual machines
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Branch-specific deployment option
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Customizable nature that practically begs you to optimize its settings for your projects
Travis CI
Travis CI identifies new GitHub repository commits and immediately goes to work building and testing them. If you rely on GitHub repositories, this is one of the best CI/CD tools for you. Other essential features include its:
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Multi-language support (including PHP, Python, C, C#, C++, Pearl, Node, and Java)
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Ability to deploy to multiple cloud services
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Automatic deployment that happens as soon as a build passes tests
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Virtual machines that test updates in customized environments
Improve Your CI/CD Process With Packagecloud
Providing your development team access to the best CI/CD tools should improve efficiency and morale while giving users the features they want from digital products. Make your CI/CD tools even more effective by pairing them with Packagecloud. Packagecloud is a cloud-based service built specifically to distribute software packages to target machines and environments.
Everyone in your organization can use Packagecloud because the tool takes an agnostic approach to operating systems and programming matters. Even if some employees use Linux and others use Windows, Packagecloud will have no trouble delivering packages to all users. As a cloud-based tool, you don’t need to make a hefty investment in Packagecloud. Your plan makes it easy to scale, update diverse machines quickly, and maintain excellent levers of security.
Would you like to see how much Packagecloud can contribute to the success of your CI/CD tools? Start a free trial now to experience the benefits firsthand.
