In the fast-paced software-development world of startups where innovation and speed are of the essence, setting up the right automated testing tools is key. We finally began migrating our Python unit tests to the industry-leading open source automation server Jenkins. Here are our main thoughts so far.

Open-source

Jenkins, being open source, turned out to be a cost-effective solution and simple solution. There are neither hefty licensing fees nor complex licensing agreements, enabling us to focus on test coverage rather than admin overhead.

Simplicity in set-up and configuration

Jenkins has a user-friendly installation process and we were setting up complex test-cases within the first hour of having set it up. It dealt with more complex topics - for example storing user credentials to Git servers - in an exceptionally simple way.

User-Friendly Interface

Jenkins' charm lies in its unintimidating user-friendly interface. Navigating through the various functionalities is a breeze, making the learning curve gentle for startups. This approach-ability ensures that even those who are new to Jenkins can quickly get on board and start reaping its benefits.

Plugins

Jenkins doesn't just stop at being user-friendly—it empowers startups with a range of plugins that open up a world of possibilities. From connecting with version control systems to integrating with cloud services, these plugins seamlessly extend Jenkins' capabilities. This versatility meant we could craft a testing environment that is suited to our startup's unique requirements: connection to Git, building and management of Docker images, deployment to our ECR, etc.

Continuity in Integration and Delivery

Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) are the bedrock of efficient development, and Jenkins is our guiding star. With CI, Jenkins automates the integration of code changes from different contributors, curbing integration issues. CD takes us a step further by automating the deployment process, ensuring that our code journey from development to production is both seamless and error-free.

Docker Integration

In the modern tech landscape, Docker has revolutionized the way we deploy applications. Jenkins recognized this, and its seamless Docker integration caught our attention. The ability to incorporate Docker containers into our testing and deployment workflows streamlined our processes, adding another layer of efficiency to our startup journey.

We continue our journey hoping to set up an automated testing environment and maybe even deployment. We'll keep you update how it goes.