VSTS CI Build for Dockerized .net Core 2.1 multi-container app

Background

This is 2nd part of the series on Continuous Deployment of Multi-Container app in Azure using VSTS and Docker. In the first part I laid out the broad idea of what I intend to do as part of this series. Lets get started with the first step of creating the Continuous Integration build definition. Setting up the CI build involves multiple steps right from choosing the build server, getting the source code from the source code repository, running unit test, ensuring code quality by running static code analysis, producing the build artefacts etc. It would be difficult to cover all those topics in single post. I will focus on initial step of connecting the build server to the source code and update the source code on each checkin.

Create New VSTS Build

As mentioned in the pre-requisites in the first part of this series, I assume you have a valid VSTS account. Login to your account and you will be presented with the screen similar to what is shown below

VSTS start page

Click on the new project option to create a new VSTS project. You will be requested to provide minimal settings to start new project. Project name and Description are self explanatory. When it comes to version control you can chose from Git or Team Foundation Version Control.

Git version control

I have my Github repository which I will be linking shortly. So I will go and pick Git. Last step is to chose the process template. VSTS provides Agile, CMMI or Scrum as the available options.

Agile Work Item process template

I will go with the default of Agile template. Based on your team needs you might want to chose other template. Based on the work item template selected, VSTS will provide additional features for the application lifecycle management. For example, when I chose Agile, I will be give default Sprint and Iteration planning templates which can be helpful while working in teams.

With these basic information VSTS will create a project and whole set of related items for us. After successful completion of the project you should be presented with a welcome screen for newly created project

Project source options

You can start with a blank repository or push an existing repository to VSTS. You also have options to import source code from various supported providers like Bitbucket, Github, Subversion etc. In our case I do not wish to duplicate the source code between Github and VSTS. I am going to continue using Github as my source code repository and use VSTS purely for the purpose of build and release management.

Setup Build

Click on the Set up Build hyperlink. This will navigate us to the screen where we can define a new build. Based on the type of technology and type of project VSTS provides prebuilt templates. I could have chosen ASP.Net Core project, but I preferred to use the Empty template.

blank project

Similar to the project definition, build definition also needs some basic information to get started with.

Agent type selection

Provide some unique name for the build. We can choose from 4 different types of queues

  • Hosted
  • Hosted Linux Preview
  • Hosted macOS Preview
  • Hosted VS2017

We will choose the Hosted Linux Preview option. At this point of time we need to decide what are the different steps our build is going to perform. First of all we need the source code to be available on the build server. Click the Get Sources section to establish the connection from one of the available source

GitHub connection

I selected GitHub and provide a meaningful name (GitHub DotNet-2017 Connection). I opted to authorize with OAuth and was presented with a popup to provide the credentials to connect to GitHub account. Once successfully I will have access to all the GitHub repositories.

Github project names

I selected dotnet-2017 as the repository. With these configurations we are ready to go. Lets test that we are in fact able to pull the source code hosted in public GitHub repo to the build server. Click on the Save & Queue option to trigger the first build. You will get a hyperlink to the build number, click that to go to the build details. If everything was configured correctly, you should see the log of what happens during the process

successful code download

The build is successful and we can see the details of each phase if we wish to go into the details. This proves that our connection between VSTS and GitHub is working fine. The last part remaining is to trigger the build automatically anytime there is change to the source code in GitHub. That is pretty easy. Go back to the build definition click on edit option to edit it.

CI trigger

Click the Triggers to enable CI trigger. Default is turned off because of which the changes to source control are not automatically built. Enable this setting and we will have automatic build triggered for every change. I like to enable one more option to Batch the changes if there is already build in progress. This will ensure that any changes checked in while another build is in progress are batched together instead of running individual builds for each change. Save the changes. To test this feature you will need to checkin some changes to GitHub. That is an exercise for you to test your knowledge so far.

Conclusion

This was the stepping stone to get our journey stated with VSTS and automated build. We managed to integrate GitHub and VSTS. With the base set nicely we will be cruising along in the future posts of the series. Microsoft has managed to replicate most of the features from on prem Visual Studio Team Foundation server to the online offering. With minimal efforts we can start building CI and CD pipelines. Feel free to explore other features related to CI build. Until next time code with passion and strive for excellence.

Share:
spacer

23 comments:

  1. Excellent web site you have here.. It's hard to find high quawlity wwriting
    likke yours nowadays. I truly appreciate people like you!
    Take care!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This blog was... how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something
    tha helpe me. Thanks a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello there! I kow this is kinhd of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I
    could get a captcha plugin for my comment form?
    I'm using tthe same blog platform as yours and I'm having problems finding one?
    Thanks a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post. I waas checking constasntly this blog and I am impressed!Very useful info specially
    the last part :) I care for such info much. I was seeking
    this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Glad to know that you found the right info on my blog.

      Delete
  5. Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and
    I'm impressed! Very helpful information particularly the
    last part :) I care for such info much. I was looking for this certain information for a
    very long time. Thank you and good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you. Hope you find other posts also useful.

      Delete
  6. Wonderful work! This is the kind of information that should be shared around the internet.

    Sham on the search engines for no longer positioning this post higher!
    Come on over and consult with my web sie . Thanks =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your offer :). How do I contact you to increase traffic to my site?

      Delete
  7. That is a really good tip particularly to those new to the
    blogosphere. Short but very accurate info… Thank you
    for sharing this one. A must read post!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your style is unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from.
    Thank you for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I'll just book mark this page.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your
    website and in accession capital to assert that I acquire
    in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access
    consistently rapidly.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am really loving the theme/design of your site.
    Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues?
    A small number of my blog audience have complained about my website
    not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome.
    Do you have any tips to help fix this problem?

    ReplyDelete
  11. We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your
    post's to be what precisely I'm looking
    for. can you offer guest writers to write content
    available for you? I wouldn't mind composing a post or elaborating on many
    of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome website!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after I
    clicked submit my comment didn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyway, just
    wanted to say wonderful blog!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your
    blog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I was curious if you ever thought of changing the structure
    of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Excellent pieces. Keep writing such kind of info on your blog.
    Im really impressed by your blog.
    Hey there, You have done an incredible job. I'll certainly digg it and for my
    part suggest to my friends. I'm sure they'll be benefited from this website.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this article and also the rest of the website is very good.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is really attention-grabbing, You are a very skilled blogger.
    I have joined your feed and sit up for in the hunt for extra of your fantastic post.
    Also, I have shared your website in my social networks

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I'd like to follow you if that would be ok.
    I'm undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward
    to new updates.

    ReplyDelete