How can you implement a mobile app CI pipeline for multiple contributors?

Pensando em entrega continua, talvez mais importante do que o sistema de controle de vers?o seja justamente o fluxo de trabalho. Apesar do deploy automatizado, se o seu time usa estratégias baseadas em features, onde melhorias também ficam retidas com códigos em desenvolvimento por muito tempo. Você n?o está entregando valor de fato para os seus usuários de forma contínua!

This involves several key steps: Version Control with Git: Use Git for seamless code management and collaboration among multiple contributors. Automated Build System: Integrate Jenkins or CircleCI to compile and test code upon each commit. Code Review Process: Establish a rigorous review process through pull requests on platforms like GitHub for quality and consistency. Automated Testing: Include comprehensive automated testing, like unit and integration tests, to minimize bugs. Branching Strategy: Adopt a clear strategy, such as Git Flow, for organized, conflict-free development. Continuous Deployment/Delivery: Implement this for automatic deployment of successful builds to testing or production environments.

Following are high-level steps: 1. Use a version control system like Git and establish a branching strategy for collaborative development. 2. Set up a CI server (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI) to automate builds, tests, and deployments triggered by code changes. 3. Configure a CI pipeline with build automation tools, automated testing frameworks, and code quality checks. 4. Implement access control, notifications, and documentation to facilitate collaboration and ensure security. 5. Continuously maintain and update the CI pipeline to adapt to changes in the project and improve efficiency.

Selecting the right version control system (VCS) is indeed a crucial initial step in establishing an efficient mobile app CI pipeline. The explanation about how a VCS facilitates code management, branch creation, conflict resolution, and version rollback is insightful. The mention of popular VCS options like Git, Mercurial, and Subversion, along with cloud-based services such as GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab, provides a comprehensive overview. Collaborating on code repositories through these platforms ensures seamless teamwork. A well-informed and concise guide for anyone venturing into mobile app development CI.

Selection of a VCS will determine what triggers you will be using for integration in the pipeline. Git is the most versatile and commonly used VCS. Git implementors like Github, Bitbucket, etc. help you with hooks which you could use during your CI CD pipeline execution.

Setting up a CI server automates mobile app development, ensuring code quality. Upon code push to the VCS, servers like Jenkins or CircleCI run tests and analyses. Cloud services like Firebase Test Lab offer real or simulated device testing, providing valuable insights. This streamlines development and ensures optimal app performance. The choice of CI server should balance functionality and ease of use, tailored to project needs.

Use Github, CircleCI, Fastlane, and Crashlytics for observability. Github actions allow fast, reactive builds. Set up on a model of the train leaving the station on a quick cadence, that is a fast clip but helps set expectations with teams. Getting a standard build environment and making it fast and easy for engineers.

Mobile DevOps with Azure DevOps PaaS provides CD/CI ensuriong QA process integrated with other retated backend an front systems as Dynamics 365 ERP / CRM. As well using tools in AppCenter to compile mobile applications and opportunity to take advantage of the resources available in Azure DevOps. This platform have control over many things in addition to CI/CD components. Add work plan, as well as statistical information about the project’s execution; Generation various Boards with user stories, project tasks, and sprints, repository component at complete disposal by using Github integration. Basically iterative process in Mobile DevOps should be following stages : Code, Test, Release, Deploy, Monitor & Plan.

?? Setting up Jenkins as our CI (Continuous Integration) server revolutionized our development process. Jenkins, with its extensive plugin ecosystem, enabled us to automate our build and testing processes effectively. Upon each code commit, Jenkins triggered a series of automated tests, ensuring that any integration issues were identified early. This setup reduced our bug frequency significantly and accelerated the development cycle.

Setting up a CI server sits at a core for implementing a mobile app CI pipeline. There is no silver bullet solution which works for every mobile app. The banking mobile app can have more complex monitoring and analysis requirement than a health tracker or fitness mobile app. The process of triggering build or CI actions should be based on the various factors like unit testing and performance testing requirements. The time-cost of triggering a build on each commit plays a vital role as well for choosing a right CI server.

In general pipeline consist of stages where code get pushed to repository, build get triggered and build is tested and deployed to production. It is bit complex but totally depends on the need and requirement. Code: need to check in repository Build: It is triggered and deployed in test environment Deploy: code deployed to stage and in production environment. Pipelines are predefined and are executed in parallel as much as possible to speed up and accelerate the delivery. It is very important to build a test platform and framework with right testing tool that can be easily integrated with ci/cd pipeline to have faster feedback, robust testing, product drive success.

There are at least 3 stages build, test and deploy in CI pipeline. The build stage may just compile your code, The test stage may just run the unit tests and share results, The deploy stage may simply upload your app on play store or a cloud server. However are each pipeline stage there can be a possibility of failures or resulting exceptions. Most of the modern CI tools have great telemetry and logging services, however while setting up the pipe-line, one must also keep a tab on such details and in case if required have it tailored, it as applicable.

What about connect with the app stores in Mobile Azure DevOps. This is a complex topic. Although we can visit the marketplace to integrate extensions that allow us to make these releases, it is not something that is currently supported so easily. Therefore, we can integrate Google Play and iTunes Connect processes for store release flows. The recommendation here is to configure the release step and manage the connections from there (highly recommended). Improvement of these steps, increase components, and use custom build scripts or extensions is easier to integrate it from Azure DevOps compared to integrate containers.

??? Defining pipeline stages was a strategic move in our CI process. We used Fastlane to automate tedious tasks like generating screenshots, beta deployment, and releasing to app stores. Our pipeline included stages for building, automated testing (unit and UI tests), and beta distribution. By scripting these stages in Fastlane, we ensured consistency and efficiency in our release process, significantly reducing manual intervention.

La organización de la canalización en etapas proporciona una estructura clara para el desarrollo. Desde la compilación inicial hasta las pruebas unitarias, pruebas de integración y construcción de artefactos, cada etapa se dise?a para ser independiente y proporcionar una retroalimentación precisa. Esto permite la identificación temprana de problemas y facilita una corrección rápida.

Code quality doesn’t mean functional code. Make sure to incorporate unit and integration tests, run at each new contribution.

This is a prerequisite of a very high order. The code quality checks/code smells etc. should be part of development efforts. Each developer must ensure that the code being committed is thoroughly unit tested for code issues and possible bugs or vulnerabilities. Linting validations and suggestions provided by tools like SonarQube/Climate should be well treated and each commit should pass through these checks rigorously.

As mentioned by Martin Hansen and others, this is a prerequisite and should also be a part of development workflow. Developer should be responsible to run lint, formatters and tests locally before raising the PR to save build resources and reduce back and forth. The PR template can mention the checklist of the items to be reviewed by the developer before raising the PR which can include these checks: - [] checked linter locally [swiftlint/ktlint] - [] tests passing locally - [] other relevant quality checks based on the workflow/tools used by the team

?? Implementing SonarQube for code quality checks was a game-changer. It automatically analyzed our codebase for bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells. This practice not only improved code quality but also aligned our team with coding best practices. Integrating these checks into our CI pipeline meant that every commit underwent rigorous quality assessment, elevating the overall standard of our code.

La calidad del código es fundamental, y la integración de herramientas de análisis estático, como SonarQube o ESLint, eleva los estándares. Configurar reglas específicas asegura la consistencia y previene la acumulación de deudas técnicas, mejorando la sostenibilidad del proyecto a largo plazo.

By doing continuous delivery, you can identify areas for improvement in your application. You can identify measurable metrics to track the progress and success of your application. Form a cross-functional team with members from development, testing, operations, and other relevant departments. In this way, you can establish clear roles and responsibilities for each team member. It will help establish a culture of continuous learning and improvement in the organisation. Continuously analyse the data to identify areas for improvement. It will always help to make the product more reliable and robust.

La retroalimentación continua es esencial para un equipo ágil. Configurar notificaciones automáticas mantiene a los desarrolladores informados sobre el estado de la canalización, fomentando la transparencia y la colaboración. La implementación de despliegues automáticos en entornos de prueba y, eventualmente, en producción, acelera la entrega y permite una respuesta rápida a los requisitos cambiantes.

?? Enabling continuous feedback and delivery transformed our project's dynamics. We used TestFlight for beta testing, gathering invaluable user feedback pre-release. For crash reporting and performance monitoring, Firebase Crashlytics provided real-time data, helping us swiftly address issues. This continuous loop of feedback and delivery ensured that our app remained robust and user-centric.

Using automated testing, integration, and communication technologies, you can set up continuous feedback and delivery for numerous contributors in your mobile app's continuous integration pipeline. To find problems early, automate unit testing, UI testing, and code analysis using technologies like Jenkins or GitLab CI. Builds are automatically started using version control integration upon code commits. Use teamwork tools such as Microsoft Teams or Slack to communicate in real-time about pipeline status. Encourage the release of miniature, frequent versions of your code to facilitate continuous delivery and quick issue resolution.

Although native mobile application development and low-code mobile application development have their own advantages and disadvantages, it is important to consider certain aspects when choosing a platform for mobile application development. In the case of native mobile application development, a deep knowledge of the specific programming languages of each platform, such as Java or Swift, is required. Additionally, native mobile application development can be expensive and time-consuming. However, native mobile applications offer high performance and a smooth user experience.

?? A vital lesson learned was the importance of communication and documentation within the team. As our CI pipeline evolved, ensuring that every team member was aligned with the process and tools used became crucial. Regular training sessions and updated documentation helped in maintaining a smooth workflow, preventing any bottlenecks due to knowledge gaps. This practice was as essential as the technical aspects of CI pipeline implementation.

Also consider the similarities and differences in CI/CD needs across the various environments, e.g. local development, steady state/quality assurance, staging, and production. There are always opportunities to share resources and tasks (e.g. a pre-built binary to ease local development), as well as crucial points where they must diverge for specific environments (e.g. different VCS branches build to different environments).

Don't forget your client SLA when setting-up such a process. In some case, they may have a right to review/test your new developments. I've had this for heavy api users in the past. Be sure your pipeline is ready for that. But, even better, try to avoid giving these rights to clients.