Create a pipeline definition

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 45 views

Automating Deployment to Kubernetes: A Developer's Perspective

As a developer, we often find ourselves performing repetitive tasks, such as manually deploying applications to Kubernetes. This not only wastes our time but also increases the likelihood of human error. In this article, we will explore how to create a Continuous Deployment (CD) pipeline using Tekton to automate the deployment of our application to OpenShift.

Why Automate Deployment?

Automating deployment to Kubernetes offers several benefits, including:

Reduced manual effort: By automating deployment, we can free up time for more critical tasks, such as writing code and debugging issues.
Improved consistency: Automated deployment ensures that our application is deployed consistently, reducing the risk of human error.
Faster time-to-market: With automated deployment, we can quickly respond to changes in the market or customer needs, reducing the time it takes to get our application to production.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that you have the following prerequisites:

Kubernetes cluster: You have a Kubernetes cluster set up, preferably on OpenShift.
Tekton: You have Tekton installed on your cluster.
Service account: You have a service account created with the necessary permissions to deploy to OpenShift.

Step 1: Create a Tekton Pipeline

To create a Tekton pipeline, we will use the tkn command-line tool. First, create a new file called pipeline.yaml with the following content:

apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1beta1
kind: Pipeline
metadata:
  name: accounts-pipeline
spec:
  tasks:
  - name: clone
    taskRef:
      name: clone
    params:
    - name: url
      value: https://github.com/username/accounts.git
  - name: lint
    taskRef:
      name: lint
    params:
    - name: url
      value: https://github.com/username/accounts.git
  - name: test
    taskRef:
      name: test
    params:
    - name: url
      value: https://github.com/username/accounts.git
  - name: build
    taskRef:
      name: build
    params:
    - name: url
      value: https://github.com/username/accounts.git
  - name: deploy
    taskRef:
      name: deploy
    params:
    - name: url
      value: https://github.com/username/accounts.git

This pipeline consists of five tasks:

Clone: Clones the repository from the specified URL.
Lint: Runs linting checks on the code.
Test: Runs unit tests on the code.
Build: Builds the application.
Deploy: Deploys the application to OpenShift.

Step 2: Create Task Definitions

Next, we need to create task definitions for each of the tasks in our pipeline. Create a new file called tasks.yaml with the following content:

apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1beta1
kind: Task
metadata:
  name: clone
spec:
  steps:
  - name: clone
    image: docker.io/username/clone
    command: ["git", "clone", "--depth=1", "https://github.com/username/accounts.git"]
  - name: checkout
    image: docker.io/username/checkout
    command: ["git", "checkout", "main"]
---
apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1beta1
kind: Task
metadata:
  name: lint
spec:
  steps:
  - name: lint
    image: docker.io/username/lint
    command: ["npm", "run", "lint"]
---
apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1beta1
kind: Task
metadata:
  name: test
spec:
  steps:
  - name: test
    image: docker.io/username/test
    command: ["npm", "run", "test"]
---
apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1beta1
kind: Task
metadata:
  name: build
spec:
  steps:
  - name: build
    image: docker.io/username/build
    command: ["npm", "run", "build"]
---
apiVersion: tekton.dev/v1beta1
kind: Task
metadata:
  name: deploy
spec:
  steps:
  - name: deploy
    image: docker.io/username/deploy
    command: ["oc", "apply", "-f", "deployment.yaml"]

These task definitions use Docker images to perform the necessary actions for each task.

Step 3: Create a Service Account

To deploy to OpenShift, we need to create a service account with the necessary permissions. Create a new file called serviceaccount.yaml with the following content:

apiVersion: v1
kind: ServiceAccount
metadata:
  name: accounts-sa
---
apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: Role
metadata:
  name: accounts-role
rules:
- apiGroups: ["*"]
  resources: ["*"]
  verbs: ["get", "list", "watch", "create", "update", "patch", "delete"]
---
apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: RoleBinding
metadata:
  name: accounts-rolebinding
roleRef:
  name: accounts-role
  kind: Role
subjects:
- kind: ServiceAccount
  name: accounts-sa
  namespace: default

This service account has the necessary permissions to deploy to OpenShift.

Step 4: Create a Deployment YAML File

To deploy to OpenShift, we need to create a deployment YAML file. Create a new file called deployment.yaml with the following content:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: accounts-deployment
spec:
  replicas: 1
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: accounts
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: accounts
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: accounts
        image: docker.io/username/accounts
        ports:
        - containerPort: 8080

This deployment YAML file defines a deployment with one replica and a single container.

Step 5: Trigger the Pipeline

To trigger the pipeline, use the following command:

tkn pipeline start accounts-pipeline --service-account accounts-sa

This will start the pipeline and perform the necessary actions to deploy the application to OpenShift.

Conclusion

Q: What is a CD pipeline?

A: A CD pipeline is a series of automated tasks that are executed in a specific order to deploy an application to a production environment. In this article, we created a CD pipeline using Tekton to automate the deployment of our application to OpenShift.

Q: What is Tekton?

A: Tekton is an open-source framework for building and managing CI/CD pipelines. It provides a set of APIs and tools for defining and executing pipelines, as well as integrating with other tools and services.

Q: What are the benefits of using a CD pipeline?

A: The benefits of using a CD pipeline include:

Reduced manual effort: By automating deployment, we can free up time for more critical tasks, such as writing code and debugging issues.
Improved consistency: Automated deployment ensures that our application is deployed consistently, reducing the risk of human error.
Faster time-to-market: With automated deployment, we can quickly respond to changes in the market or customer needs, reducing the time it takes to get our application to production.

Q: What are the steps involved in creating a CD pipeline?

A: The steps involved in creating a CD pipeline are:

Create a pipeline definition: Define the pipeline using a YAML file or using the Tekton CLI.
Create task definitions: Define the tasks that will be executed in the pipeline, such as cloning, linting, testing, building, and deploying.
Create a service account: Create a service account with the necessary permissions to deploy to OpenShift.
Create a deployment YAML file: Create a deployment YAML file that defines the deployment configuration.
Trigger the pipeline: Trigger the pipeline using the Tekton CLI or other tools.

Q: What are the advantages of using OpenShift?

A: The advantages of using OpenShift include:

Easy deployment: OpenShift provides a simple and easy-to-use deployment process.
Scalability: OpenShift provides scalable infrastructure that can handle large workloads.
Security: OpenShift provides robust security features to protect our application and data.

Q: What are the best practices for creating a CD pipeline?

A: The best practices for creating a CD pipeline include:

Use a consistent naming convention: Use a consistent naming convention for pipeline definitions, task definitions, and service accounts.
Use a version control system: Use a version control system, such as Git, to manage pipeline definitions and task definitions.
Test the pipeline: Test the pipeline thoroughly before deploying it to production.
Monitor the pipeline: Monitor the pipeline regularly to ensure that it is running smoothly and efficiently.

Q: What are the common challenges when creating a CD pipeline?

A: The common challenges when creating a CD pipeline include:

Complexity: CD pipelines can be complex and difficult to manage.
Integration: Integrating with other tools and services can be challenging.
Security: Ensuring the security of our application and data is a major challenge.
Scalability: Ensuring that our pipeline can scale to handle large workloads is a challenge.

Q: How can I troubleshoot issues with my CD pipeline?

A: To troubleshoot issues with your CD pipeline, follow these steps:

Check the pipeline logs: Check the pipeline logs to identify any errors or issues.
Check the task logs: Check the task logs to identify any errors or issues.
Check the service account permissions: Check the service account permissions to ensure that they are correct.
Check the deployment YAML file: Check the deployment YAML file to ensure that it is correct.
Contact support: Contact support if you are unable to troubleshoot the issue yourself.