Best Way To Learn Jenkins From Scratch

How to Learn Jenkins
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Jenkins is one of the most popular and potent open-source applications and a continuous integration tool that ensures a seamless delivery of projects, regardless of the platform you work on.

 

Jenkins has several plugins that amplify its functionality and is a free source capable of handling any continuous or build integration.

 

This guide will discuss how to learn Jenkins from the base up. But, before we get to address that, there are some vital questions that we need to discuss.

 
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What Should I Learn Before Jenkins?

Now, before we discuss the best way to learn Jenkins, let’s check if you need any prerequisites for it.

 

Jenkins is a popular tool that helps perform continuous integration and develop automation for software projects. It is preliminary software. Hence, you require no former skill or knowledge to work with Jenkins.

 

It has an elegant and straightforward GUI to take you through the process. But are you pondering how to learn Jenkins from scratch with no former background? Well, it is possible!

 

You can enroll in any elementary Jenkins class that will take you from the base up if you are a software professional with a thorough knowledge of the software development life cycle. Hence, a fundamental understanding of the software development process is all you need to commence your journey with Jenkins.

 

Even though there are no technical requirements to learn Jenkins, there are some system requirements you need to fulfill to get started with the best way to learn Jenkins.

 

These include:

  1. JDK – 1.5 or above
  2. A computer running Windows, Ubuntu/Debian, Red Hat/Fedora/CentOS, Mac OS X, OpenSUSE, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Gentoo
  3. You can run a WAR fine in any container that supports Servlet 2.4/JSP 2.0 or later

 

As for the disk space, there are no specific requirements. However, please note you will store all your builds on the Jenkins machines. Hence, you must have ample disk space available to accommodate your creations.

 

Should I Learn Docker Before Learning Jenkins First?

Is it necessary to have Docker knowledge before starting with Jenkins? How to learn Jenkins from scratch if you have no Docker knowledge? Let us find out if they are co-dependant.

 

See, comparing Docker to Jenkins is more like putting apples against oranges. The purpose of these two tools is different from one another. So, there is no way you can pit them against each other.

 

So, here are some things you should know about Docker and Jenkins.

  1. Jenkins is a CI engine. It can help you test or create software. On the other hand, Docker is a container engine you use to manage or build containers.
  2. Jenkins offers a seamless interface for managing and creating several CI/CD pipelines via its plugins. Developers even create Docker images or run Docker containers with the Jenkins CI/CD pipeline. It helps with software testing.
  3. Jenkins is the automated software testing tool formulated to create a tool for the Java application, whereas Docker helps create and function various portable environments on the software stack.

 

So, now, if you are new to it all, we recommend digging resources to figure out how to learn Jenkins from scratch and then advancing to Docker. Anyone aspiring to be a DevOps expert cannot ignore Docker.

 

Here’s How To Start With Your Jenkins Learning Journey..

Now, below we will discuss some steps and resources to learn Jenkins. Let us address them one by one:

 

A. Refer to the official user documentation 

The best way to learn Jenkins is from Jenkins official. So, you can check out the official documentation from Jenkins. It will give you an insight into Jenkins’s function. The documentation covers all the topics that take you from the implementation to the final deployment stage. Thus, this tutorial will teach you the basics like:

  1. Defining variables environments
  2. Making the pipeline
  3. Installing Jenkins
  4. Setting up notifications
  5. Recording test results
  6. Deployment

 

B. Find yourself the best tutorial

Are the free sources to learn Jenkins authentic and reliable? Most definitely, yes!? You can find several free tutorials online. Below, we will list the three best options:

  1. Jenkins Tutorial By Tutorials Point – It is an introductory tutorial that covers Jenkins’ fundamentals. It can be an incredibly beneficial class for software testers who want to learn to test and build their projects continually. Further, it will assist the developers in integrating the changes to projects as fast as possible to acquire fresh builds.
  2. Jenkins Tutorial By Edureka – In this session, you will study the basics of Jenkins and continuous integration. It is best suited for beginners interested in learning Jenkins. You will also discover how to build Jenkins architecture. Thus, this is the perfect pick for anyone seeking a class to find how to learn Jenkins from scratch.
  3. Step By Step Jenkins Tutorial For Beginners – It is a step-by-step tutorial for beginners aspiring to demonstrate how to download and install Jenkins and begin with a continuous integration server. Once you finish this class, you will have learned to install Jenkins. It will also take you closer to the DevOps expert status and assist you in building continuous integration jobs.

 

C. YouTube

Beyond the various MOOCs online, there are also several free classes on YouTube to streamline your learning. The only problem with YouTube is the information is spread, meaning every small concept will be a different video. So, you will have to scroll to find one that best fits your requirements.

 

The three best videos for learning Jenkins are:

1. Jenkins Video Tutorial – It is a comprehensive video playlist comprising nineteen videos that take you from the beginner to the intermediate level in Jenkins. With this guide, you will discover how to use CAT LIGHT, set up Jenkins on Tomcat, use CLI, Jenkins integration with GIT, how to trigger jobs with email, etc.
 
2. Jenkins Full Course – Simplilearn is an excellent platform for a free online class, and this video tutorial is a perfect example. In this guide, you will learn the meaning of DevOps, Installing Jenkins on Windows, What Jenkins is, the Working of the Jenkins pipeline, questions you will experience in the DevOps interview, and more.
 
3. Jenkins Tutorial for Beginners [FULL COURSE in 3 Hours] – It is a detailed, fast-paced session wherein you will learn everything you need to know about Jenkins. It covers everything from what Jenkins is to its installation, Jenkins architecture, Jenkins pipeline, Jenkins on Docker, and much more. The class is hands-on. So, you work on many projects across the session.

 

D. Online Jenkins Courses

Want to know how to learn Jenkins from home? There are no better options than online classes.
The Internet has multiple authentic platforms like Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Pluralsight, Alison, etc., where you can find best Jenkins courses to get well-versed with Jenkins.

 

Some of the classes you can explore are:

 

1. Jenkins, From Zero To Hero: Become a DevOps Jenkins Master – It is a bestselling Udemy class that takes you through the basics to the advanced level of Jenkins in less than eleven hours.

 

Here, you will study – what Jenkins is, how it works, orchestrate the popular DevOps tools, build and design your Jobs with various tools, and Integrate Jenkins with Ansible, Docker, Email, AWS, Maven, and more. In addition, you will acquire knowledge on continuous deployment and integration.

 

2. Continuous Delivery & DevOps – This Coursera class is presented to you by The University of Virginia. It is an eight-hour-long class wherein you learn to diagnose a team’s delivery pipeline, pipeline acquire the roles and skill sets in DevOps, review and deliver automation tests, facilitate iterative team progress, and more.

 

It is a beginner-friendly class, but you need some familiarity with software development to take this session.

 

3. Learn DevOps: CI/CD with Jenkins using Pipelines and Docker – Enrolling in Udemy class is the best way to learn Jenkins, and this course is no different. It is a short but informative session.

 

Here, you will learn to use Jenkins for performing Continuous integration within your software development lifecycle, installing Jenkins with Docker, and Configuring Jenkins the DevOps way.

 

E. Books

Not everyone prefers a digital medium to study Jenkins. So, if you are one of them who enjoys the traditional learning method, a book can be your rescue. But, it will be incomplete without a practical guide.

 

So, these are the top paid and free resources to learn Jenkins and get trained. With this kind of wholesome training and practice you will be able to ace any Jenkins interview, for sure.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Ques 1. What is Jenkins used for?

Ans. Jenkins is used to testing and building your products regularly. So, developers can make alterations to the build whenever needed. It is one of the most prevalent open source CI/CD tools in the market today, which works with DevOps and other cloud-native tools.

 

Because Jenkins facilitates automation, it enables the DevOps team to deliver better, faster, and low-cost technological solutions. Hence, today Jenkins enjoys the popularity of being one of the tools for developers to materialize their goals.

 

Ques 2. How many days will it take to learn Jenkins?

Ans. Jenkins is a straightforward tool. You can master it in less than three months. Your fundamental understanding will be solid in only two-three days of learning and practice.

 

Ques 3. Is coding required for Jenkins?

Ans. You do not need coding or programming knowledge to get started with Jenkins. It has a very straightforward and an easy to follow GUI. Some Java knowledge may be needed for certain plugins though. You can learn that on the way. Nothing needed in advance.

 
To Sum Up…

Since now you understand how to learn Jenkins, you should begin learning it with their official source. However, if the written documentation look overwhelming at once and you miss a human touch, go for online instructor-led Jenkins course.

 

That way you will have a guided course in the correct direction.

 

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