What is RazorOps CICD?

Shyam Mohan K
11 min readJan 19, 2023

Container-native CI/CD tools like RazorOps are designed to help organizations streamline their software development and deployment processes by using containers. These tools provide a number of benefits over traditional CI/CD solutions, including increased efficiency, scalability, and flexibility.

One of the main advantages of container-native CI/CD tools is that they allow developers to package their applications in containers, which are self-contained units that include all the necessary dependencies and configuration files. This makes it easy to deploy and run the application in any environment, as the container can be easily moved from one server to another.

RazorOps, for example, is a powerful CI/CD platform that is built on top of Kubernetes, the leading container orchestration system. This allows developers to easily deploy their applications to a variety of environments, including on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid setup.

RazorOps also provides a number of other features that make it a great choice for organizations that want to streamline their software development and deployment processes. For example, it includes built-in support for continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous deployment, which allows developers to quickly and easily build, test, and deploy their applications.

In addition, RazorOps provides powerful monitoring and logging capabilities, which allow organizations to easily track the performance of their applications and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. This makes it easy to ensure that applications are running smoothly and that any problems are quickly identified and resolved.

Overall, container-native CI/CD tools like RazorOps are a great choice for organizations that want to streamline their software development and deployment processes. They provide a number of benefits over traditional solutions, including increased efficiency, scalability, and flexibility, and make it easy to deploy and run applications in any environment.

What is RazorOps pipeline?

A Razorops pipeline is a series of automated steps that are executed in sequence to build, test, and deploy an application. It typically includes steps such as:

  1. Fetching the source code from a version control system (such as Git)
  2. Building the code, possibly including tasks such as compilation, testing, and linting
  3. Packaging the code into a deployable artifact, such as a Docker container or an executable binary
  4. Deploying the artifact to a staging or production environment
  5. Running additional tests or checks on the deployed application

The purpose of a Razorops pipeline is to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying an application, allowing developers to focus on writing code and releasing updates more quickly and efficiently. Razorops provides a platform for creating and managing pipelines, including tools for defining the pipeline steps and integrating with various tools and services.

How to create DevOps pipeline with RazorOps CICD?

To create a DevOps pipeline with Razorops, you can follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for a Razorops account and create a new project.
  2. Connect your source code repository (such as GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab) to Razorops.
  3. Create a new pipeline in the Razorops dashboard. You can choose from a variety of pre-configured templates or create a custom pipeline from scratch.
  4. Configure the pipeline stages, including build, test, and deploy. You can also add additional stages such as security scanning and monitoring.
  5. Set up environment variables and secrets for the pipeline.
  6. Add triggers for the pipeline, such as when a new code is pushed to the repository or when a pull request is opened.
  7. Test the pipeline by manually triggering a build.
  8. Once the pipeline is working as expected, you can integrate it with other tools like Slack, Jira, and GitHub for better collaboration and monitoring.
  9. Monitor the pipeline and make adjustments as needed to ensure it’s running smoothly.

Note: Razorops is a cloud-native, Kubernetes-based platform. It does not require any additional infrastructure or setup. It’s also easy to integrate with existing CI/CD tools and processes.

# spec version (v1/v2)
version: v2
global: # defines default properties for the `tasks`
runner:
os_image: ubuntu # use Linux-VM build environment to run the tasks
variables: # environment variables to be injected into each task
- CGO_ENABLED=0
- GOOS=linux
- GOARCH=amd64
- GOFLAGS=-mod=vendor
- LD_FLAGS=-w -s

tasks:
unit-tests: # first task
steps:
- checkout # clone the git repo

# It tries to pull cached content by calculating an unique key.
- cache/pull: go-dep-{{ checksum "go.sum" }}

# fetch code dependencies ( uses go modules )
- name: Download dependencies
run: go mod vendor

- name: Execute test suite
commands:
- GO_PACKAGES=$(go list ./... | grep -v vendor)
## run tests cases and generate reports
- go test -coverprofile=coverage.out $GO_PACKAGES
- mkdir coverage && go tool cover -html=coverage.out -o coverage/index.html

# publish code dependencies with an unique key to speedup the next build
- cache/push:
key: go-dep-{{ checksum "go.sum" }}
paths: [~/go/pkg/mod]
# upload coverage report to view it later in Dashboard
- reports/html:
name: cover
dir: coverage/index.html

compile: # second task (compile and unit-tests will start in parallel)
steps:
# clone git repo
- checkout

# restore cache if available
- cache/pull: go-dep-{{ checksum "go.sum" }}

# download missing dependencies
- run: go mod vendor

# compile package
- commands:
- go build -ldflags "$LD_FLAGS" -o hack/dist/api ./cmd/server

# persist files needed for deploy task
- workspace/persist:
paths: [hack, Dockerfile.ci]

deploy:
when: branch == 'develop' # only run if code is pushed to develop branch
depends: [unit-tests, compile] # wait for compile and unit-tests to finish
steps:
# download the files persisted from upstream tasks (compile)
- workspace/attach

# build and push a Docker image. You will need to add the credentials in Dashboard
- docker/build:
image: us.gcr.io/demo/api
tags: ["${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8}", "${CI_REPO_BRANCH}", "latest"]
dockerfile: Dockerfile.ci
context: hack
push: true

# deploy on kubernetes cluster `example`, You need to add the credentials in Dashboard
- name: Update image using kubectl
commands:
- DOCKER_IMAGE=us.gcr.io/demo/api:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8}

- kubectl config use-context example
- kubectl set image deployment/api api=$DOCKER_IMAGE

Read more — https://docs.razorops.com/config/example/

List of RazorOps alternatives?

There are many alternative continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) platforms available, including:

  1. Jenkins: an open-source CI/CD platform that is widely used and highly customizable.
  2. CircleCI: a cloud-based CI/CD platform that supports a wide range of languages and technologies.
  3. Travis CI: a cloud-based CI/CD platform that is popular among open-source projects.
  4. GitLab CI/CD: a CI/CD platform that is integrated with the GitLab version control system and project management tools.
  5. Azure DevOps: a CI/CD platform from Microsoft that is integrated with the Azure cloud platform.
  6. AWS CodePipeline: a CI/CD platform from Amazon Web Services that is integrated with the AWS ecosystem.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other CI/CD platforms available. The best platform for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements, such as the languages and technologies you use, the scale and complexity of your projects, and your budget. It’s a good idea to research and compare different CI/CD platforms to find the one that best fits your needs.

RazorOps vs Jenkins CI?

Jenkins is an open-source automation server that is used to automate the building, testing, and deployment of software. It provides a web-based interface that makes it easy for developers to configure and manage their build and deployment pipelines. Jenkins is designed to be highly extensible, with a large number of plugins available that can be used to integrate with a wide variety of tools and services.

One of Jenkins’ key features is its ability to run jobs in parallel, which allows teams to build, test, and deploy multiple software projects at the same time. Jenkins also has built-in support for version control systems like Git and SVN, which makes it easy to trigger builds when code is committed or pushed. Additionally, Jenkins has a built-in web interface that provides real-time feedback on the status of builds and deployments, allowing teams to quickly identify and address any issues that arise.

Jenkins is widely used by teams of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, and is particularly popular in the Java ecosystem. It can be installed on-premises or on the cloud, and it’s free to use.

Jenkins can be integrated with a wide variety of tools and services, such as Github, Gitlab, Jira, Slack, Selenium, and more. It can be used for various tasks such as building, testing, and deploying software, running performance tests, and automating various other processes.

Jenkins is a mature and powerful CI/CD tool that has been around for over a decade, and it has a large and active community of users. This means that it has a lot of third-party integrations and add-ons available, as well as a wealth of documentation and tutorials. It also has a wide range of plugins available for different languages, tools and frameworks, which can make it easy to set up a pipeline for a variety of technologies.

Jenkins also has a built-in scripting engine, called Jenkinsfile, which allows users to write scripts that define their build and deployment pipelines. This makes it easy to version control the pipeline and to make changes to it over time.

Jenkins also has a feature called “Jenkins Master-Slave architecture” which allows to distribute the build/test load to multiple machines, this feature is especially useful for large and complex projects where there are a lot of tests and builds to run.

Jenkins has a few limitations as well. One limitation is that it can be difficult to set up and configure for large and complex projects. It also can consume a lot of resources and can become slow when running many jobs in parallel. Additionally, Jenkins does not have built-in support for container orchestration, so teams that are using or planning to use Kubernetes or other container orchestration tools may need to use additional plugins or integrations to support these technologies.

In summary, Jenkins is a powerful and widely-used open-source CI/CD tool that can be used to automate the building, testing, and deployment of software. It is well-suited for teams of all sizes and can be integrated with a wide variety of tools and services. However, it can be complex to set up and configure and may require additional resources and plugins to support container orchestration.

RazorOps vs Jenkins CI?

Razorops and Jenkins are both Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools, but they have some key differences.

One of the main differences between the two is that Jenkins is an open-source tool, whereas Razorops is a paid service. This means that Jenkins is free to use and can be customized and extended as needed, whereas Razorops is a more fully-featured service that is designed to be easy to use out of the box.

Another difference is that Jenkins is more general-purpose, with a wide range of plugins available for different languages, tools, and frameworks. It can be used for various tasks such as building, testing, and deploying software, running performance tests, and automating various other processes. Razorops, on the other hand, is more focused on providing a simple and easy-to-use interface for developers and is built for Kubernetes and container orchestration, making it a better option for teams that are already using or planning to use Kubernetes.

Razorops also supports multi-cloud deployment and automation and it is more focused on providing a simple and easy-to-use interface for developers. Jenkins, on the other hand, is more flexible and can work with a wider range of technologies and languages.

Another key difference is that Jenkins has a built-in scripting engine, called Jenkinsfile, which allows users to write scripts that define their build and deployment pipelines. This makes it easy to version control the pipeline and to make changes to it over time. Razorops, on the other hand, is more focused on providing a simple and easy-to-use interface for developers and does not have a built-in scripting engine.

Another difference between the two is the level of complexity in terms of setup and maintenance. Jenkins is a powerful and flexible tool, but it can be complex to set up and configure, especially for large and complex projects. This can require a significant amount of time and resources to get it up and running. Razorops, on the other hand, is designed to be easy to use and requires less setup and maintenance, making it a better option for teams that are looking for a more streamlined and simple CI/CD solution.

Another point to consider is scalability, Jenkins is known to consume a lot of resources, especially when running many jobs in parallel. On the other hand, Razorops is built with scalability in mind and is optimized for container orchestration.

When it comes to pricing, Jenkins is free to use, but it may require additional resources and plugins to support container orchestration and other features. Razorops is a paid service, but it is designed to work with Kubernetes and container orchestration, which may make it a more cost-effective solution in the long run.

In terms of community, Jenkins has a large and active community of users, which means that it has a lot of third-party integrations and add-ons available, as well as a wealth of documentation and tutorials. Razorops is relatively new and has a smaller community, which means that it may have fewer third-party integrations and tutorials available.

In summary, Jenkins and Razorops are both powerful and capable CI/CD tools, but they have different features, pricing and focus. Jenkins is an open-source tool that is more flexible and can work with a wider range of technologies and languages. Razorops is a paid service that is built for Kubernetes and container orchestration, making it a better option for teams that are already using or planning to use Kubernetes. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s worth evaluating both options to see which one best fits your needs.

Read More https://razorops.com/jenkins-alternative/

What is CircleCI?

CircleCI is a cloud-based Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) platform. It allows developers to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying their code. It provides a simple and consistent way for teams to develop, test, and deliver software. CircleCI integrates with a variety of tools and services, such as Github, Gitlab, and Slack, to provide a seamless workflow for teams. It also supports various languages and frameworks, including Java, Python, Ruby, Node.js, PHP and more. It offers both free and paid plans to suite different teams needs.

RazorOps vs CircleCI?

Razorops and CircleCI are both cloud-based Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) platforms, but there are some key differences between the two.

One key difference is that Razorops is built for Kubernetes and is therefore more tightly integrated with Kubernetes and other container orchestration tools. CircleCI, on the other hand, is more flexible and can work with a wider range of technologies and languages.

Another difference is that CircleCI offers a more robust set of features such as built-in support for parallelism, orbs and orbs repository which is reusable package of config, CircleCI’s machine executor, which allows users to run jobs on their own hardware.

Razorops on the other hand is more focused on providing a simple and easy-to-use interface for developers and supports multi-cloud deployment and automation.

Another difference between the two platforms is the pricing structure. CircleCI offers both free and paid plans, with the paid plans providing access to additional features and resources. Razorops is a paid service, with the pricing being based on the number of pipelines and parallel jobs.

CircleCI also has a large and active community of users, which means that it has a lot of third-party integrations and add-ons available. It also has a rich documentation and a large pool of tutorials and articles. On the other hand, Razorops is relatively new and has a smaller community, which means that it may have fewer third-party integrations and tutorials available.

Both platforms offer similar capabilities in terms of continuous integration and deployment, but CircleCI has more experience and history in the industry, so it may be more stable and reliable. However, Razorops is a newer service and is designed to work specifically with Kubernetes, which may make it a better option for teams that are already using or planning to use Kubernetes.

In summary, both CircleCI and Razorops are powerful and capable CI/CD platforms that can help teams automate their software development pipeline, but they have different features, pricing, and focus. It is important to evaluate both options and to consider the specific needs of your team before making a decision.

Complete Onboarding RazorOps

https://razorops.com/schedule-demo

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Shyam Mohan K

Founder at RazorOps CICD, I love Container Native DevOps with Docker and Kubernetes, SO