Question

What techniques have helped you reduce build times in CI/CD tools like Jenkins?

This question is about strategies to speed up the CI/CD pipeline, focusing on Jenkins. Possible answers include resource optimization, parallel processing, caching, and selective testing, both in terms of practical methods and concrete tool configurations.

Answer 1

Caching and Artifact Reuse: Caching dependencies and build artifacts reduces repetitive work. In Jenkins, I use plugins like the Jenkins Pipeline Cache or Docker layer caching to speed up builds, especially for dependencies and intermediate Docker layers.
Parallel Execution: Splitting jobs and running independent stages in parallel can significantly reduce overall build time. For example, I parallelize unit tests, integration tests, and other independent stages in the Jenkins pipeline.
Optimizing Resource Allocation: Allocating sufficient resources to Jenkins nodes or dynamically scaling nodes based on demand using Kubernetes-based Jenkins agents ensures that pipelines execute quickly. Using Jenkinsfile allows better control over stages, and job chaining reduces redundant steps.
Selective Builds: I optimize build times by triggering partial builds based on code changes. Tools like Jenkins Multibranch Pipeline and GitHub’s Path Filters let me run builds only for changed components, reducing unnecessary build time.