AWS CodePipeline is a fully managed continuous delivery service that helps you automate your release pipelines for fast and reliable application and infrastructure updates. With CodePipeline, you can build, test, and deploy your applications seamlessly and efficiently. In this guide, we will focus on a new feature introduced by CodePipeline – triggering pipeline executions on git tags.
Overview of Triggering Pipeline Executions on Git Tags¶
In a recent update, AWS CodePipeline introduced support for triggering pipeline executions on git tags. This feature allows customers to start a pipeline execution whenever a git tag is pushed to repositories in popular version control platforms such as GitHub, GitHub Enterprise Server, GitLab Cloud, and Bitbucket Cloud.
How to Enable Git Tag Triggers¶
To enable pipeline executions on git tags, customers need to add a “triggers” section in their pipeline definition file. This section includes filters to specify which git tags should trigger pipeline executions. The filters allow customers to use both include and exclude patterns, giving them flexibility in defining their trigger criteria.
For example, if we want to trigger a pipeline execution only when git tags with a specific prefix, such as “release-“, are applied to a commit in the source repository, we can define the following filter:
markdown
triggers:
- filterTagsOnly: true
include:
- release-*
With this configuration, CodePipeline will start a pipeline execution whenever a git tag starting with “release-” is pushed to the repository.
Outputting the Triggering Git Tag¶
Once a pipeline execution is triggered by a git tag, customers can easily track the triggering git tag through the CodePipeline console. The CodeStarSourceConnection source action, responsible for cloning the commit associated with the git tag, also outputs the git tag that started the pipeline execution as an output variable.
This output variable can be accessed in subsequent pipeline stages or actions, allowing customers to incorporate the triggering git tag in their deployment scripts or other processes within the pipeline.
Supported Integration Methods¶
AWS CodePipeline provides various methods for interacting with the service. Customers can utilize the triggers section and enable git tag triggers using the following integration methods:
API¶
The CodePipeline API allows programmatic access to CodePipeline features, including the ability to define and modify pipeline configurations. By using the API, customers can dynamically enable or disable git tag triggers based on their deployment pipelines’ requirements.
CLI¶
The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) provides a command-line interface for interacting with various AWS services, including CodePipeline. With the CLI, customers can easily manage pipelines and their associated trigger configurations, including git tag triggers. This is especially useful for automating pipeline tasks or integrating CodePipeline with other DevOps tools.
SDK¶
AWS offers Software Development Kits (SDKs) for various programming languages, which provide libraries and tools for interacting with AWS services. By utilizing the CodePipeline SDK, customers can incorporate git tag triggers into their pipeline management workflows, making it easier to automate and customize the pipeline setup and execution.
CDK¶
The AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) is an open-source software development framework that allows developers to define cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages. With the CDK, customers can define CodePipeline configurations, including git tag triggers, using familiar programming constructs, reducing the complexity of infrastructure-as-code deployments.
Additional Technical Points¶
In addition to the core functionalities and integration methods discussed above, let’s highlight some additional technical points that can enhance your usage of AWS CodePipeline and its support for git tag triggers.
Customizing Pipeline Executions¶
AWS CodePipeline provides various stages and actions that can be added to your pipeline configuration. These stages and actions allow you to customize and extend your pipeline’s functionality, such as running tests, building artifacts, deploying to different environments, and more. By combining these actions with git tag triggers, you can create advanced deployment workflows tailored to your specific application requirements.
Environment Variables¶
CodePipeline allows you to define environment variables that can be accessed by pipeline stages and actions. These variables can be used to pass information between different stages, configure build or deployment scripts, or store sensitive data securely. Leveraging environment variables, you can enhance your pipeline’s flexibility and maintainability when incorporating git tag triggers.
Testing and Debugging Pipelines¶
When working with complex deployment pipelines, testing and debugging become essential. CodePipeline provides features like pipeline execution history, detailed execution logs, and step-by-step visualization of pipeline stages. These tools help you identify issues in your pipeline configurations or script logic, ensuring smooth and error-free pipeline executions triggered by git tags.
Security Considerations¶
When enabling git tag triggers, it is crucial to consider security implications. Ensure that appropriate permissions are set up for the CodePipeline service to access and clone your source repository. Additionally, implement secure coding practices to prevent unauthorized access and ensure the integrity of the triggered pipeline executions.
Conclusion¶
AWS CodePipeline’s support for triggering pipeline executions on git tags provides customers with a powerful tool for automating their deployment pipelines. By leveraging this feature, along with the various technical points discussed, customers can streamline their release processes, improve collaboration between development and operations teams, and enhance overall agility in delivering software applications.
Remember to take advantage of the integration methods, customize your pipeline executions, and ensure proper security considerations to make the most of this feature. With AWS CodePipeline and git tag triggers, you can unlock the full potential of continuous delivery and achieve faster, more reliable software deployments.