Overview

Currently, the benhall/flask-demo project does not have CI/CD automation scripts set up. In order to implement CI/CD, there are several steps and tooling options available. This document outlines the next steps towards establishing CI/CD for the project.

Next Steps for CI/CD Implementation

1. Choose a CI/CD Tool:

   • Popular choices include GitHub Actions, Travis CI, CircleCI, and Jenkins. Choose one based on your team’s preferences and project requirements.

2. Create Configuration Files:

   • Each CI/CD tool has its own configuration format. For instance, GitHub Actions uses YAML files located in the .github/workflows directory.

3. Integrate Testing and Coverage:

   • Utilize existing Makefile targets for running tests and generating coverage reports.

4. Deploy the Application:

   • Define deployment steps in the CI/CD tool, specifying environments and methods for deploying the Flask application.

5. Automate Dependency Management:

   • Ensure that the installation of dependencies is handled within the CI/CD pipeline. The existing Makefile contains an install target for this purpose.

6. Notification and Monitoring:

   • Set up notifications for build status to the development team using Slack, email, or other communication tools.

Example CI/CD Pipeline Configuration

As an illustration, a simple GitHub Actions configuration might look like this:

name: CI/CD Pipeline

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      
      - name: Set up Python
        uses: actions/setup-python@v2
        with:
          python-version: '3.8'

      - name: Install dependencies
        run: |
          make install
      
      - name: Run Tests
        run: |
          make test

      - name: Collect Coverage
        run: |
          make coverage

This configuration does the following:

• Triggers on pushes to the main branch.
• Checks out the code from the repository.
• Sets up Python 3.8.
• Installs the necessary dependencies using the existing Makefile.
• Executes the tests defined in the project.

Utilizing Existing Makefile Targets

The Makefile provides useful commands that can be seamlessly integrated into the CI/CD pipeline. Below are key targets:

• Run the Flask Application:

  run:
      @echo "Starting Flask application..."
      @python app.py
  

• Run Tests:

  test:
      @echo "Running tests..."
      @python -m unittest discover -s tests
  

• Code Coverage:

  coverage:
      @coverage run -m unittest discover
      @coverage report
      @coverage html
      open htmlcov/index.html
  

Each of these commands can be utilized in the CI/CD process to ensure that all relevant tests are executed and that coverage is collected effectively.

Conclusion

Setting up CI/CD for benhall/flask-demo is essential for maintaining code quality and automating deployment processes. By following the outlined steps and leveraging the existing Makefile capabilities, one can establish a robust CI/CD pipeline that enhances development workflow and minimizes the chances of regression.

As the project evolves, the implementation of CI/CD will facilitate better collaboration, quicker deployment, and continuous improvement practices.