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Overview
Continuous development is a software development approach that involves working in small, incremental cycles, rather than in large, discrete batches. This approach is beneficial when working on personal projects because it allows for quicker progress, easier incorporation of feedback and changes, and more effective testing and iteration. This can help you stay motivated and engaged, improve the quality of your project, and save time and effort in the long run.
In this guide, we will be stepping through:
Installing Docker and Jenkins on your Raspberry Pi.
Creating a GitHub repository for your Docker container and commit your Dockerfile and other necessary files to the repository.
Setting up a continuous integration (CI) system, such as Jenkins or GitHub Actions, that monitors your repository for changes and is triggered by new commits.
Adding steps that build your Docker container, pushing it to a registry, and deployint it to your Raspberry Pi.
And testing your CI pipeline and Docker container thoroughly before deploying them to your Raspberry Pi.
By following these steps, you can set up a continuous deployment pipeline that automatically builds, pushes, and deploys your Docker container whenever you push a new commit to your repository. This can help save time and effort, and ensure that your application is always up-to-date and running smoothly on your Raspberry Pi.
Prerequisites
1. A Raspberry Pi running Raspbian or a similar debian-based Linux distribution.
This is the one I used:
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2019
2. A GitHub account.
Installation
Make sure your Raspberry Pi is up to date. You can do this by running the following command on your Raspberry Pi:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
Install Docker on your Raspberry Pi. You can do this by running the following command on your Raspberry Pi:
curl -sSL https://get.docker.com | sh
Finally, Install Jenkins on your Raspberry Pi. You can do this by running the following command on your Raspberry Pi:
sudo apt-get install jenkins
Dockerfile
Here is an example of a Dockerfile that you can use to build a Docker container for your Raspberry Pi:
FROM node:12
WORKDIR /usr/src/app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["npm", "start"]
This Dockerfile uses the official Node.js Docker image as a base, installs the necessary dependencies, copies the application files into the container, exposes port 3000, and runs the npm start command to start the application.
You can customize this Dockerfile to suit your needs. For example, if you are using a different base image or need to install additional dependencies, you can modify the relevant lines in the Dockerfile accordingly.
Continuous Integration
Create a new GitHub repository for your Docker container. Make sure to commit your Dockerfile and any other necessary files to this repository.
Set up a continuous integration (CI) system, such as Jenkins or GitHub Actions, that monitors your GitHub repository for changes. This system should be triggered every time you push a new commit to your repository.
Jenkins
If you want to use Jenkins for your CI system, you will need to create a Jenkinsfile that defines your Jenkins pipeline. This file should be committed to your GitHub repository. Here is an example of a Jenkinsfile that you can use:
pipeline {
agent any
stages {
stage('Build Docker Container') {
steps {
sh 'docker build -t my-container .'
}
}
stage('Push Docker Container') {
steps {
sh 'docker push my-container'
}
}
stage('Deploy Docker Container') {
steps {
sh 'ssh pi@<IP_ADDRESS_OF_YOUR_RASPBERRY_PI> "docker run -d my-container"'
}
}
}
}
GitHub Actions
Alternatively, if you want to use GitHub Actions for your CI system, you will need to create a workflow file in the .github/workflows directory of your repository. This file should define your CI workflow. Here is an example of a workflow file that you can use:
name: Deploy to Raspberry Pi
on:
push:
branches: [master]
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- name: Build Docker Container
run: docker build -t my-container .
- name: Push Docker Container
run: docker push my-container
- name: Deploy Docker Container
run: ssh pi@<IP_ADDRESS_OF_YOUR_RASPBERRY_PI> 'docker run -d my-container'
In both cases, the Jenkinsfile or workflow file will perform the following actions:
Build the Docker container using the Dockerfile in your GitHub repository.
Push the built Docker container to a registry, such as Docker Hub.
SSH into your Raspberry Pi and run the newly pushed Docker container.
Optional Steps
Use a build agent, such as Jenkins slaves or GitHub Actions runners, to distribute the workload of building and deploying your Docker container. This will help improve the performance of your CI system and reduce the time it takes to deploy your Docker container.
Use a deployment tool, such as Ansible or Terraform, to automate the provisioning and configuration of your Raspberry Pi and Docker containers. This will help simplify the deployment process and make it easier to manage your infrastructure.
Use a monitoring tool, such as Prometheus or Grafana, to monitor the performance and availability of your Docker container on your Raspberry Pi. This will help you identify and diagnose problems quickly and keep your application running smoothly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the continuous deployment of a Docker container from GitHub to a Raspberry Pi can help automate the process of building, pushing, and deploying your Docker container, and ensure that your application is always up-to-date and running smoothly on your Raspberry Pi.
By following the steps in the guide above and testing your pipeline thoroughly, you can set up a robust and reliable continuous deployment pipeline that saves time and effort and helps you deliver high-quality software. I hope this guide was helpful, and I wish you the best of luck with your continuous deployment efforts!