CI/CD pipelines
CI/CD Pipelines for MediaWiki: A Comprehensive Guide
This article details the implementation of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines for a MediaWiki 1.40 installation. Properly configured CI/CD streamlines development, testing, and deployment, leading to faster release cycles and improved software quality. This guide is aimed at system administrators and developers new to CI/CD concepts within the MediaWiki ecosystem.
What are CI/CD Pipelines?
CI/CD isn't a single tool, but a methodology.
- Continuous Integration (CI) focuses on frequently merging code changes into a central repository, followed by automated builds and tests. This helps detect integration issues early.
- Continuous Delivery (CD) extends CI by automating the release process, ensuring that code is always in a deployable state. It does *not* necessarily mean continuous deployment (automatic deployment to production).
For MediaWiki, this translates to automating tasks like PHPUnit tests, code style checks, and deployment to staging and production environments.
Key Components of a MediaWiki CI/CD Pipeline
Several components are typically involved:
- Version Control System (VCS): Git is the standard. All MediaWiki code modifications should be tracked within a Git repository (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).
- CI/CD Server: Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or CircleCI are common choices. These servers execute the pipeline defined in a configuration file.
- Build Tools: PHP, Composer, and potentially Node.js (for frontend tasks) are required.
- Testing Frameworks: PHPUnit is crucial for unit and integration testing of MediaWiki extensions and core code. Selenium can be used for end-to-end browser testing.
- Deployment Tools: Ansible, Chef, Puppet, or simple shell scripts can automate the deployment process.
- MediaWiki Instance: The actual MediaWiki installation and database that is being updated. Consider using Docker for consistent environments.
Example Pipeline Stages
A typical CI/CD pipeline for a MediaWiki extension or modification might include these stages:
1. Code Commit: A developer commits changes to the Git repository. 2. Build: The CI/CD server retrieves the latest code, installs dependencies using Composer, and prepares the extension or code. 3. Static Analysis: Code quality checks are performed using tools like PHPStan or Psalm. This helps identify potential bugs and maintain code style. 4. Unit Testing: PHPUnit is run to execute unit tests, verifying the functionality of individual code components. 5. Integration Testing: Tests that verify the interaction between different parts of the system. 6. Staging Deployment: The code is deployed to a staging environment, a replica of the production environment, for further testing. 7. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Testers verify the changes in the staging environment. 8. Production Deployment: After successful UAT, the code is deployed to the production environment.
Technical Specifications: CI/CD Server Options
The following table outlines the specifications for popular CI/CD server options:
| CI/CD Server | Operating System | Resource Requirements (Minimum) | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jenkins | Linux, Windows, macOS | 2 Core CPU, 4GB RAM, 20GB Disk | Highly Scalable (Master/Slave architecture) |
| GitLab CI | Linux (Docker-based) | 2 Core CPU, 4GB RAM, 10GB Disk | Scalable with GitLab Runners |
| GitHub Actions | Linux, Windows, macOS (Virtual Machines) | Variable, based on workflow complexity | Scalable based on GitHub plan |
| CircleCI | Linux (Docker-based) | 2 Core CPU, 4GB RAM, 10GB Disk | Scalable with concurrent jobs |
Technical Specifications: Testing Frameworks
| Testing Framework | Language | Purpose | Integration with CI/CD |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHPUnit | PHP | Unit and Integration Testing | Seamless integration with Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions |
| Selenium | Multiple (Java, Python, C#) | End-to-End Browser Testing | Requires a Selenium Server and browser drivers |
| Behat | PHP | Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) | Integrates well with PHPUnit and CI/CD systems |
| Codeception | PHP | Acceptance, Functional, and Unit Testing | Provides a unified testing framework |
Technical Specifications: Deployment Tools
| Deployment Tool | Language | Configuration | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansible | Python | YAML Playbooks | Moderate |
| Chef | Ruby | Ruby DSL (Domain Specific Language) | High |
| Puppet | Ruby | Puppet DSL | High |
| Shell Scripts | Bash | Bash Scripts | Low (for simple deployments) |
Security Considerations
- Secure Credentials: Never hardcode credentials in your CI/CD configuration. Use environment variables or a secrets management system (e.g., HashiCorp Vault).
- Access Control: Restrict access to the CI/CD server and its configuration to authorized personnel.
- Code Review: Implement a code review process to catch potential security vulnerabilities.
- Regular Updates: Keep the CI/CD server and its dependencies up to date to mitigate security risks.
- Database Backups: Always have recent database backups before any deployment. Review the MediaWiki Backups article.
Resources and Further Reading
- MediaWiki Extension Development
- MediaWiki Configuration
- MediaWiki Database Schema
- Composer
- PHPUnit
- Git
- Jenkins Documentation
- GitLab CI Documentation
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️