Setting Up a CI/CD Pipeline for a NestJS Application on Azure

In today's fast-paced development environment, the need for continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) has become paramount for modern application development. CI/CD allows developers to automate the process of code integration, testing, and deployment, ensuring that new features and fixes are delivered to users quickly and efficiently. In this article, we will explore how to set up a CI/CD pipeline for a NestJS application on Azure, providing you with actionable insights, clear code examples, and step-by-step instructions.

What is CI/CD?

Continuous Integration (CI)

CI is the practice of automatically integrating code changes from multiple contributors into a shared repository. This process involves running automated tests and building the application to catch issues early in the development cycle. CI helps maintain a high quality of code and reduces integration problems.

Continuous Deployment (CD)

CD extends CI by automating the deployment of code changes to production environments. This means that every change that passes the automated tests can be deployed automatically, allowing for rapid updates and a more agile development process.

Why Use a CI/CD Pipeline for NestJS?

NestJS is a progressive Node.js framework for building efficient, reliable, and scalable server-side applications. Setting up a CI/CD pipeline for your NestJS application on Azure can provide several benefits:

• Faster development cycles: Automate repetitive tasks and focus on writing code.
• Improved code quality: Continuous testing ensures that only stable code is deployed.
• Reduced human error: Automation reduces the risk of manual deployment mistakes.
• Scalability: Easily manage deployments as your application grows.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into setting up the CI/CD pipeline, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

• An Azure account
• Azure CLI installed
• Node.js and NestJS CLI installed
• A NestJS application ready for deployment

Step 1: Create an Azure DevOps Project

1. Log in to your Azure DevOps portal.
2. Create a new project by clicking on “New Project” and filling in the required details.
3. Once your project is created, navigate to the “Repos” section to set up your repository.

Step 2: Push Your NestJS Application to Azure Repos

1. Initialize a Git repository in your NestJS application folder if you haven't already:

bash git init

1. Add your Azure Repo as a remote:

bash git remote add origin <your-azure-repo-url>

1. Stage and commit your changes:

bash git add . git commit -m "Initial commit"

1. Push your code to Azure Repos:

bash git push -u origin master

Step 3: Set Up Azure Pipelines

Azure Pipelines will automate the build and deployment of your NestJS application. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Navigate to the “Pipelines” section in Azure DevOps and click on “Create Pipeline.”
2. Select your repository where your NestJS application is hosted.
3. Choose “Starter Pipeline” to create a new YAML pipeline.

Sample azure-pipelines.yml

Here’s a basic example of how your azure-pipelines.yml file might look:

trigger:
  branches:
    include:
      - master

pool:
  vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'

steps:
- script: |
    npm install
    npm run build
  displayName: 'Install dependencies and build'

- script: |
    npm test
  displayName: 'Run tests'

- task: AzureWebApp@1
  inputs:
    azureSubscription: '<Your Azure Subscription>'
    appType: 'webApp'
    appName: '<Your App Service Name>'
    package: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/**/*.zip'

Explanation of the Pipeline

• trigger: This section specifies the branches that will trigger the pipeline automatically. Here, it triggers on pushes to the master branch.
• pool: This defines the environment in which the pipeline will run. We’ve chosen the latest Ubuntu image.
• steps: This section defines the tasks to be executed:
• The first step installs dependencies and builds the application.
• The second step runs tests to ensure code quality.
• The last step deploys the application to Azure App Service.

Step 4: Deploy Your Application

1. Create an Azure App Service:
2. Navigate to the Azure portal, select “Create a resource,” and choose “Web App.”

3. Fill in the required details such as subscription, resource group, and app name.

4. Configure the Azure Pipeline:

5. In Azure Pipelines, navigate to your pipeline and select “Run pipeline.” This will trigger the CI/CD process.
6. Monitor the build and deployment process to ensure everything is functioning properly.

Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues

While setting up your CI/CD pipeline, you may encounter some common issues. Here are a few troubleshooting tips:

• Build Fails:

• Check the logs for error messages. Ensure that all dependencies are correctly specified in package.json.

• Deployment Issues:

• Verify the app service configuration in Azure, including runtime stack and deployment credentials.

• Test Failures:

• Investigate failing tests by reviewing the output logs. Ensure that your tests are correctly set up and cover the necessary functionality.

Conclusion

Setting up a CI/CD pipeline for a NestJS application on Azure is an essential step towards modernizing your development workflow. By automating the integration, testing, and deployment processes, you can enhance code quality, reduce errors, and accelerate your release cycles.

With the steps outlined in this article, you can confidently create your CI/CD pipeline using Azure DevOps. As you grow more familiar with the tools and processes, you can further customize your pipeline to meet the specific needs of your applications. Happy coding!