This project demonstrates the implementation of a CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, and associated tools. The primary goal is to automate the building, testing, and deployment of applications in a scalable Kubernetes environment. The infrastructure is configured using Vagrant VMs and tools like Kops, Helm, and SonarQube, enabling a comprehensive, automated, and repeatable deployment process.

1. Infrastructure Setup:

• Vagrant VMs: Three VMs are provisioned using Vagrant for Jenkins, SonarQube, and Kops. Each VM is configured with specific roles and scripts to facilitate CI/CD pipeline tasks.

2. Jenkins Setup:

• Software Installation: Jenkins is set up with JDK, Maven, and Docker to handle the build and deployment processes.
• Integrations: Jenkins is integrated with SonarQube for code quality analysis and DockerHub for managing Docker images.
• Plugins: Essential Jenkins plugins are installed to support various stages of the pipeline, including Docker and Kubernetes plugins.

3. SonarQube Setup:

• Quality Gate: A custom quality gate is configured to enforce code quality standards.
• WebHooks: SonarQube is configured with webhooks to integrate seamlessly with Jenkins and trigger actions based on code quality results.

4. Kops Setup:

• AWS Configuration: SSH keys, AWS S3 buckets, IAM users, and Route 53 DNS settings are configured to manage the Kubernetes cluster.
• Helm: Helm is installed to manage Kubernetes deployments via charts.
• GitHub Webhooks: Webhooks are set up to trigger builds in Jenkins based on changes in the GitHub repository.

5. Helm Charts:

• Chart Creation: Helm charts are created and tested to streamline Kubernetes deployments, ensuring that applications are deployed consistently across different environments.

6. Jenkins Pipeline:

• Pipeline Definition: A comprehensive Jenkinsfile defines the CI/CD pipeline, including stages for building, testing, static code analysis, Docker image creation, and Kubernetes deployment.
• Key Stages:
  • Build: Maven is used to compile the application.
  • Test: Automated tests are executed.
  • Checkstyle Analysis: Code is analyzed for adherence to coding standards.
  • SonarQube Analysis: The code undergoes a thorough quality check.
  • Docker Image: A Docker image of the application is built and pushed to DockerHub.
  • Kubernetes Deployment: The application is deployed to a Kubernetes cluster using Helm.

7. Kubernetes Cluster:

• Cluster Management: A Kubernetes cluster is created and managed using Kops. Validation and cleanup procedures are implemented to ensure cluster integrity.

• Jenkinsfile: Defines the pipeline stages and the CI/CD process.
• Dockerfile: Specifies the Docker image build process for the application.
• Kubernetes Manifests: Deployment and service definitions for various components such as the database, Memcached, RabbitMQ, and the application itself.