Designing a CI/CD Pipeline for a Monorepo
Pipelines make the world go round
In the world of software development, a comprehensive CI/CD pipeline is key to ensuring a smooth and efficient deployment process. In this blog post, we will discuss how we designed and implemented such a pipeline for a monorepo, overseeing the deployment of 28 distinct services using Docker & Kubernetes. We'll explain why GitLab pairs well with Kubernetes and Docker, and how this combination ensures zero downtime during a code release.
Automation
At its core, a CI/CD pipeline is all about automation. By automating the build, test, and deployment process, developers can reduce the risk of human error and free up more time to focus on coding. When it comes to deploying applications at scale, Kubernetes and Docker are essential tools that can help manage the complexity of microservices architecture.
Why gitlab?
We chose to use GitLab as our CI/CD tool of choice due to its robust feature set and seamless integrations available. With GitLab, we were able to create a pipeline that automatically builds, tests, and deploys our services to Kubernetes clusters. By using GitLab's built-in variables, we were able to test each change in isolation before merging it into the main branch. Spinning up necessary feature branches for development became as easy as clicking a button.
Green & Blue - My Favorite Colors
One of the biggest benefits of using GitLab in conjunction with Kubernetes and Docker is the ability to implement green-blue deployments. With this approach, we were able to release new versions of our applications with zero downtime, ensuring that our clients always had access to the latest features and improvements.