7 Ways to Optimize Jenkins

Efficient use of Jenkins: Seven tips to improve continuous integration and continuous delivery efficiency

Key Points

• Ensure Jenkins runs smoothly with the latest Long-term Support (LTS) version and avoid unnecessary updates. It is recommended to back up Jenkins servers regularly, especially configuration files.
• Avoid Jenkins bloating: Create multiple Jenkins masters for different projects or teams and break down the job into smaller tasks. Uninstall unused plugins regularly to keep Jenkins in good condition.
• Use plugins like its integrated script console or Scriptler to automate Jenkins. For large projects, consider using the REST API or CLI tool to automatically generate jobs.
• Integrate Jenkins with other tools such as Github, Gitlab, Gerrit, Jira, and Redmine for efficient and automated workflows. Additionally, set up an easy-to-manage slave and leverage the Jenkins community to improve your Jenkins experience.

(This article is sponsored by CloudBees. Thank you for your support for the sponsors who made SitePoint possible!)

Jenkins is a powerful tool for continuous integration and continuous delivery. In previous articles, we learned how to set up Jenkins for Quality Assurance and learned about a particularly useful plugin to enhance your process. In this article, we will walk you through seven ways to ensure efficient use of Jenkins.

(This article is based on a speech delivered by Jenkins contributor Andrew Bayer at the 2014 Jenkins User Conference and is adapted here with permission.)

1. Ensure Jenkins runs stably

Jenkins frequently releases new versions. It is recommended to always use the latest Long-term Support (LTS) version and avoid updates therein. The LTS version has been tested by the Jenkins project.

The same rules apply to plugins as well. They don't have an LTS version, but many updates can occur. Generally speaking, you should stick to the following rules: If it is working, don't update it. New updates may make functionality unstable. Additionally, any given plugin may behave differently than expected.

Also make sure you have created a backup of your Jenkins server. You can back up all your data, but it will take you a lot of time and resources. Instead, you can decide to back up your configuration files only with such scripts.

2. Avoid Jenkins swelling

You can take some simple steps to avoid having a bloated Jenkins installation:

1. If you have many teams or projects, you can create multiple Jenkins masters. For example, you can create a master for a PHP project and a separate master for an Android project. Doing this ensures that the changes do not affect all projects and that there are only the required plugins on the specific master for each project.

2. Break down your assignment into several smaller assignments. Nothing is more annoying than a long time building fails somewhere in the end. If you break up a job into smaller jobs, you can easily restart one job if it fails. The Workflow plugin is useful for this. If you are interested in getting a deeper look at Workflow plugin, check out our recent product reviews.

3. Automation Jenkins

Jenkins comes with an integrated script console that allows you to execute commands on the server. This is a handy tool for debugging Jenkins or finding the information you need.

A interesting plugin is the Scriptler plugin. With this plugin, you can save your favorite scripts for later reuse. You can also find an online script directory here that contains predefined scripts such as clearing job queues.

For each build, you can also write your own build steps in the Groovy language. This gives you more flexibility in your assignments, but also means you need to be more careful as it gives you more control. You can also run scripts in the Scriptler directory as a build step.

If you have many projects, consider automatically generating the job. Jenkins comes with a great REST API and a CLI tool to create new jobs. You can also dig into plugins like Workflow that we recently discussed to automate certain parts of the process, or use the Cloudbees Templates plugin to easily generate jobs from a predefined job framework.

4. Think about your plugin carefully

Jenkins has a rich collection of plugins; it's easy to get lost in the vast number of available plugins. It is important to determine if you really need a given plugin. Plugins can break features in Jenkins where you might not expect. They can also slow down your build jobs. Make sure to select the right plugin for the correct job. If you really don't need them, don't install them.

Track your plugin list and uninstall any plugins that are no longer used. This will help keep Jenkins in good shape and avoid swelling.

Also remember that some plugins come with global configuration settings. After installing the plugin, don't forget to check the global configuration, as the default settings may not be what you want and may cause unexpected behavior.

5. Integrate with other tools

Jenkins provides a REST API that you can use to integrate Jenkins with other tools. One of the best integrations may be integration with source code control. For example, you can easily use Jenkins with Github or Gitlab. Every time a developer creates a pull request to your source code, Jenkins can be triggered to check if there are any flaws in the pull request. This way, you can ensure that only pull requests that meet your criteria are accepted.

You can also integrate Jenkins with code review tools such as Gerrit. You will get additional feedback from Jenkins when reviewing your code in Gerrit. You can check if everything is done the way you want it to and automatically merge the code in multiple branches.

Another way is to integrate Jenkins with bug tracking systems like Jira and Redmine. When building a developer's fix, Jenkins can post updates to issues in these bug tracking tools, improving team visibility levels and notifying other team members (for example: project manager or QA tester) when the issue is fixed . On the other hand, you can also automatically generate change logs based on all issues reported in a specific build.

Of course, more integrations can be done. For example, you can easily deploy your application in every build. Whatever you decide, good automation integration will let you handle other things instead of manually performing monotonous tasks.

6. Set the correct slave

Make sure you have an easy-to-manage slave. If you make sure you can easily replace or add new slaves, your life will be much easier. If the slave crashes, make sure to get the new slave up and running with just a few clicks.

You can do this by preparing virtual images that can be used for installation, or you can manage your full configuration through Puppet (module) or Chef (recipe).

You can also choose to make slave more versatile. This means you can run multiple different jobs on a single slave, making the slave more universal. However, as mentioned above, you shouldn't make your slave too complicated.

By putting slaves into the cloud, you can decide to automatically activate them using containers such as Docker. This way, you don't waste any resources and can automatically scale when you need more slaves.

7. Jenkins Community

The last trick to using Jenkins efficiently is to take advantage of the Jenkins community. You need to be involved in the community. Engage by writing and contributing plugins or reporting/solving issues will help improve Jenkins and improve your Jenkins experience. Also, check out Jenkins Subreddit, join the mailing list, log in to the IRC to attend a biweekly Jenkins project meeting or chat anytime between project meetings, or sign up for a newsletter.

Conclusion

Every good tool can be better with maintenance and some improvements. Jenkins is no exception. Jenkins is a powerful tool for continuous integration and continuous delivery processes out of the box. But if you choose a more stable version of LTS, avoid bloating, spend some time automating, selecting the right plugins and the right integration, and getting involved in the community, your Jenkins process will really start to shine. If your continuous integration and delivery tools are working hard for you, your software development will be greatly enhanced.

How will you change your approach after reading this article? Do you have any tips on making sure Jenkins run smoothly?

Frequently Asked Questions about Optimizing Jenkins Performance (FAQ)

What are some common reasons for slow performance in Jenkins?

Jenkins' performance may be affected by a number of factors. These factors include a large number of jobs or builds, incorrect configuration settings, lack of hardware resources, and outdated plug-ins. Additionally, using complex pipelines and not cleaning up old data can also slow down Jenkins. It is important to monitor and optimize these aspects regularly to ensure Jenkins runs efficiently.

How to optimize my Jenkins master?

Optimizing your Jenkins master includes several steps. First, make sure your Jenkins master has enough hardware resources. Secondly, limit the number of jobs running on master at the same time. You can also allocate the load by setting up the Jenkins agent. Finally, regularly update your plug-ins and clean up old data to keep your Jenkins master running smoothly.

How to improve the performance of my Jenkins pipeline?

Improving Jenkins pipeline performance includes optimizing your pipeline scripts. Avoid complex scripts, and use simpler scripts instead. Furthermore, limit the number of stages in the pipeline and avoid unnecessary steps. Additionally, use the "parallel" step to run tasks simultaneously and save time.

How to effectively manage Jenkins resources?

Efficient resource management in Jenkins includes monitoring and optimizing hardware resources such as CPU, memory, and disk space. Check system load regularly and adjust resources accordingly. Additionally, limit the number of concurrent jobs and use the Jenkins agent to allocate the load.

How to optimize Jenkins plug-in?

Optimization of Jenkins plug-ins involves periodic updates to the latest version. Also, remove any unused or unnecessary plugins. Be cautious when installing new plugins and install only necessary and well-maintained plugins.

How to optimize Jenkins for large projects?

For large projects, consider setting up the Jenkins agent to allocate the load. Additionally, limit the number of concurrent jobs and use pipeline scripts to automate tasks. Clean old data regularly and optimize your hardware resources.

How to speed up Jenkins build time?

Easy Jenkins build time includes optimizing your build script and running tasks simultaneously using the "parallel" step. Additionally, limit the number of concurrent jobs and use the Jenkins agent to allocate the load. Clean old data regularly and optimize your hardware resources.

How to monitor Jenkins performance?

Monitoring Jenkins performance includes periodic checks on system load, memory usage, and disk space. Use monitoring tools like Jenkins Monitoring Plugin or external tools like Prometheus and Grafana. Review performance data regularly and adjust your settings.

How to troubleshoot Jenkins performance issues?

Troubleshooting Jenkins performance issues includes identifying the root cause. Check system load, memory usage, and disk space. Check out your pipeline scripts and configuration settings. Also, check your plug-ins and hardware resources. Use monitoring tools to collect performance data and identify any bottlenecks.

How to ensure that Jenkins runs efficiently?

Ensure that Jenkins operates efficiently including regular monitoring and optimization. Monitor system load, memory usage, and disk space. Optimize your pipeline scripts, configuration settings, and hardware resources. Update your plug-ins regularly and clean up old data. Also, consider setting up the Jenkins agent to allocate the load.

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