Jenkins vs CircleCI

What are They?

For those who don't already know, Jenkins and CircleCI are two out of the numerous continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) tools. Continuous Delivery (CD) is a software development technique where code changes are automatically prepared for a release to production. Continuous Integration (CI) is a technique for automating the integration of code changes from many developers into a single software project. Consequently, CI/CD may be described as a combination of ideas, methods, and tools that enables software updates of all kinds to reach users in a timely, effective, repeatable, and secure manner. It is a technique for regularly delivering apps to users by automating the various stages of app development.

Benefits of CI/CD

1. Detect Vulnerabilities in Security: security is a key concern in every industry. CI/CD immediately identifies any vulnerability in codes before they are deployed to production, as it even gives it more priority, thereby saving saving money by preventing humiliating and/or expensive security vulnerabilities
2. Automated Rollback Triggered by Job Failure: There are occasions when a code will include problems after it has been deployed (put into use). Therefore, attempting to identify the error's cause can take minutes, hours, days, or even weeks. However, with CI/CD, there is a rapid way to return to the code's prior working state, protecting revenue and saving time
3. Automate Infrastructure Creation: It automates the delivery of software or infrastructure-as-code from source code to production. This leads to less human error and faster deployments which eventually leads to avoidance of cost.
4. Faster and More Frequent Production Deployments: A CI/CD procedure that runs without hiccups can enable numerous daily releases. Without much manual labour, teams may automatically create, test, and deliver features, hence new value-generating features get released more quickly and the efficiency of the team is released.
5. Codes Get Deployed to Production Faster: Automating the integration and deployment of codes makes it possible to deploy code to the production state considerably, more quickly than with human checks. As a result, the development and operations teams spend less time reviewing and rechecking the code's quality, which boosts productivity and saves time, thereby boosting revenue

CI/CD Tools

CI/CD tools include, but not limited to the following;

1. Jenkins
2. CircleCI
3. GitLab
4. TravisCI
5. TeamCity
6. Bamboo
7. Buddy

Jenkins

Jenkins provides a straightforward method for automating other common development chores as well as setting up a continuous integration or continuous delivery (CI/CD) system for virtually any collection of languages and source code repositories. Jenkins gives you a faster and more reliable means to integrate your full cycle of build, test, and deployment tools than you can easily develop yourself, even though it doesn't completely eliminate the need to write scripts for individual processes.

Advantages of Jenkins

1. Easy Installation: Nobody enjoys going through a difficult installation. Jenkins is a standalone Java-based programme that comes with packages for Windows, Linux, macOS, and other Unix-like operating systems and may be used right away after installation.
2. Easy Configuration: Jenkins' web interface enables straightforward setup and configuration thanks to its built-in tutorials and real-time error checking.
3. Extensible: With a vast supply of community-contributed plugins, Jenkins is expandable and offers practically limitless potential uses.

CircleCI

CircleCI offers simple installation and upkeep without any problems. Because it is a cloud-based system, even for business customers, there is no requirement for a dedicated server and no need for server maintenance or administration with a free plan. CircleCI is compatible with GitHub, Amazon EC2, Appfog, dotCloud, and other platforms.

Advantages of CircleCI

1. Allows developers to debug in the build using SSH: It can be difficult and time-consuming to debug code on resources and in settings other than a developer's typical development environment.
2. Parallel builds are possible for rapid implementation of multiple tasks: Most frequently used build processes, including tests, are done sequentially, meaning that each step runs independently and only follows the one before it. The steps would be considered to be running concurrently or in parallel if we divided our lengthy single build process into several parts and executed them simultaneously.
3. Allows Slack integration: Everyone on your team can stay informed about the status of your most recent builds thanks to CircleCI's chat alerts. When a build succeeds or fails, you can see which commit caused it as well as who was in charge of sending the code to GitHub. It's a terrific way to keep track of what your team members are working on as well as to identify and swiftly fix problematic builds.

Jenkins vs CircleCi

1. Open-Source vs Commercial: CircleCI has a free version and premium plans, but Jenkins is an open-source technology.
2. Complexity: Because of its notoriously intricate configuration, Jenkins is best suited to seasoned developers. On the other hand, CircleCI is simpler to use and more user-friendly for beginners.
3. Scalability: CircleCI is made to manage smaller projects, but Jenkins can handle large-scale projects.
4. Community and Support: There is a sizable and vibrant community for Jenkins, and there are a tonne of plugins and resources available. Because it is a commercial solution, CircleCI offers official support and a smaller user base.
5. Integrations: Both technologies support a variety of other programmes and infrastructure, including Github, Bitbucket, and AWS. In contrast to Jenkins, CircleCI provides a smaller selection of integrations.

Conclusion

So, between CircleCI and Jenkins, which should one pick? Well, that depends on what you expect from a continuous integration tool in terms of convenience. We've seen the advantages and disadvantages of CircleCI and Jenkins; one can select a tool based on a project's needs, including its budget, timeline, and other factors. When selecting a CI/CD tool for your organisation, community support and resource availability are important considerations. Jenkins has a sizable community. On the other hand, CircleCI tries its best by offering comprehensive and useful content as well as events to address the majority of issues.