Automating Camunda Compatibility Tests With GitHub Workflows

by Alex Johnson 61 views

Ensuring compatibility across different versions of Camunda components is crucial for maintaining a stable and reliable platform. This article outlines the steps to create a daily GitHub workflow that automates the Camunda Compatibility Tests (CPT), focusing on testing client and server combinations. This workflow will help identify potential issues early, saving time and resources in the long run.

Understanding the Need for Automated Compatibility Tests

Compatibility tests play a vital role in software development, particularly in complex systems like Camunda. These tests verify that different components and versions of the system work seamlessly together. In the context of Camunda, it's essential to ensure that various client versions interact correctly with different server versions. By automating these tests, we can proactively detect and address compatibility issues before they impact users.

Camunda, as a powerful platform for workflow and decision automation, requires careful consideration of compatibility between its components. The camunda-process-test-java module, often used for integration testing, benefits significantly from a robust compatibility testing strategy. Automating these tests using GitHub workflows ensures that every change is thoroughly evaluated against a matrix of compatible versions. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of introducing compatibility issues in production environments.

Regular compatibility testing is not just a best practice; it's a necessity for maintaining the stability and reliability of Camunda deployments. The process involves executing tests against various combinations of client and server versions, identifying any discrepancies or unexpected behaviors. This requires a systematic approach to version management and test execution. By automating this process, teams can focus on development and innovation, confident that the system will perform as expected across different configurations.

Key Benefits of Automated Compatibility Tests

  • Early detection of compatibility issues
  • Reduced risk of production incidents
  • Improved software quality and reliability
  • Time and resource savings
  • Faster feedback loops for developers

Designing the GitHub Workflow for CPT

To automate the CPT, we'll create a daily GitHub workflow that performs the following steps:

  1. Retrieve Version Tags: Fetch all version tags starting from 8.8.0.
  2. Split Version Tags: Divide the tags into two lists: CLIENT_LIST (Camunda Java client versions from 8.8.0 onwards) and SERVER_LIST (OC versions from 8.9.0 onwards, including snapshots).
  3. Create Version Matrix: Generate a matrix of all possible client and server upgrade combinations (e.g., 8.8.0-8.9.0, 8.8.1-8.9.0).
  4. Checkout CPT: Checkout the CPT at a specific client version.
  5. Run CPT Tests: Execute all CPT tests with the appropriate parameters, specifying the Camunda Docker image version.
  6. Collect Tested Combinations: Persist the tested patch combinations to avoid redundant testing.
  7. Report Failures: Send failure notifications to a dedicated channel.

This structured approach ensures that each step is well-defined and contributes to the overall goal of automated compatibility testing. The workflow is designed to be efficient, only re-running tests for SNAPSHOT versions or new combinations, thereby optimizing resource utilization.

Detailed Breakdown of Workflow Steps

  • Retrieving Version Tags: The first step in the workflow is to gather all relevant version tags from the repository. This involves querying the Git repository for tags that match the specified criteria (starting from version 8.8.0). The tags provide the basis for creating the version matrix used in subsequent testing.
  • Splitting Version Tags: Once the version tags are retrieved, they need to be categorized into CLIENT_LIST and SERVER_LIST. This separation is crucial for defining the compatibility matrix. The CLIENT_LIST contains versions of the Camunda Java client, while the SERVER_LIST includes versions of the OC server. This categorization allows for targeted testing of different client-server combinations.
  • Creating Version Matrix: The core of the workflow lies in the creation of the version matrix. This matrix defines all the possible combinations of client and server versions that need to be tested. For example, the matrix might include combinations like 8.8.0 client with 8.9.0 server, 8.8.1 client with 8.9.0 server, and so on. The matrix ensures comprehensive coverage of compatibility scenarios.
  • Checking Out CPT: Before running the tests, the workflow checks out the CPT (Camunda Process Test) repository at a specific client version. This step ensures that the tests are executed against the correct version of the testing framework. The checkout process involves retrieving the code from the repository and setting up the testing environment.
  • Running CPT Tests: The heart of the workflow is the execution of the CPT tests. These tests verify the compatibility between the client and server versions defined in the matrix. The tests are run with specific parameters, including the Camunda Docker image version, to simulate a real-world deployment environment. The results of these tests provide valuable insights into the system's compatibility.
  • Collecting Tested Combinations: To avoid redundant testing, the workflow collects and persists the combinations that have already been tested. This is particularly important for daily workflows, as it prevents unnecessary test runs. Only new combinations or SNAPSHOT versions need to be tested, optimizing the workflow's efficiency.
  • Reporting Failures: The final step in the workflow is to report any failures that occur during the tests. This ensures that developers are promptly notified of compatibility issues. Failure notifications can be sent to a dedicated channel, such as the proposed #camunda-ex-cli channel, allowing for quick response and resolution.

Implementing the GitHub Workflow

Let's dive into the practical implementation of the GitHub workflow. This involves creating a YAML file in the .github/workflows directory of your repository. The workflow file will define the jobs, steps, and configurations required to execute the CPT automatically.

Workflow YAML Structure

The workflow file will typically include the following sections:

  • name: A descriptive name for the workflow.
  • on: Specifies the trigger for the workflow (e.g., daily schedule).
  • jobs: Defines the individual jobs to be executed.
  • steps: Lists the steps within each job.

The workflow will leverage GitHub Actions, which provide a platform for automating software development workflows. Actions are reusable units of code that can be combined to create complex workflows. We will use actions to perform tasks such as checking out code, setting up the Java environment, and running Maven commands.

Step-by-Step Configuration

  1. Create a new YAML file: In your repository, navigate to .github/workflows and create a new file (e.g., cpt-compatibility-tests.yml).

  2. Define the workflow name and trigger:

    name: Camunda Compatibility Tests
on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 0 * * *' # Run daily at midnight UTC

    This configuration sets the workflow to run daily at midnight UTC. You can adjust the cron expression to suit your specific needs.

  3. Define the jobs:

    jobs:
  compatibility-tests:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
        client_version: # Dynamically generated list
        server_version: # Dynamically generated list
    steps:
      # Steps to execute tests

    The compatibility-tests job is defined to run on the latest Ubuntu runner. The strategy.matrix section will be populated with the client and server version combinations.

  4. Implement the steps:

    steps:
  - name: Checkout code
    uses: actions/checkout@v3
    with:
      ref: ${{ matrix.client_version }}

  - name: Set up JDK 11
    uses: actions/setup-java@v3
    with:
      java-version: '11'
      distribution: 'adopt'

  - name: Run CPT tests
    run: |
      mvn -pl testing/camunda-process-test-java \
          -Dio.camunda.process.test.camundaDockerImageVersion=${{ matrix.server_version }} \
          test

  - name: Collect tested combinations
    # Logic to persist tested combinations

  - name: Report failures
    # Logic to send failure notifications

    These steps outline the basic actions required to checkout the code, set up the Java environment, run the CPT tests, collect tested combinations, and report failures. The placeholders for collecting combinations and reporting failures will need to be implemented based on your specific requirements.

Dynamic Version Matrix Generation

Generating the version matrix dynamically is a crucial part of the workflow. This involves retrieving the version tags, splitting them into client and server lists, and creating the combinations. This can be achieved using GitHub Actions scripting capabilities.

You can use a combination of shell scripting and GitHub Actions outputs to generate the matrix. For example:

- name: Generate version matrix
  id: generate-matrix
  run: |
    # Script to retrieve version tags and generate the matrix
    # Example: 
    # CLIENT_LIST="8.8.0 8.8.1"
    # SERVER_LIST="8.9.0 8.9.1-SNAPSHOT"
    # echo "::set-output name=matrix::{ \"include\": [{"client_version": "$CLIENT_LIST", "server_version": "$SERVER_LIST"}] }::"

This script would retrieve the version tags, split them into CLIENT_LIST and SERVER_LIST, and then format the output as a JSON object that can be used as the matrix in the workflow.

Persisting Tested Combinations

To avoid redundant testing, the workflow needs to persist the combinations that have already been tested. This can be achieved using various methods, such as:

  • Storing the combinations in a file in the repository.
  • Using a key-value store.
  • Leveraging GitHub Actions caching.

The chosen method should allow the workflow to easily check if a combination has been tested before running the tests.

Reporting Failures

Reporting failures is a critical step in the workflow. This ensures that developers are promptly notified of compatibility issues. Failure notifications can be sent to a dedicated channel, such as the proposed #camunda-ex-cli channel.

This can be achieved using GitHub Actions to send messages to a messaging platform like Slack or Microsoft Teams. You can use community-built actions or create your own custom action to handle the notifications.

Optimizing the Workflow for Efficiency

To ensure the workflow runs efficiently, consider the following optimizations:

  • Incremental Testing: Only test new combinations or SNAPSHOT versions.
  • Parallel Execution: Run tests in parallel to reduce overall execution time.
  • Caching Dependencies: Cache Maven dependencies to speed up build times.
  • Resource Limits: Set appropriate resource limits to prevent resource contention.

By implementing these optimizations, you can ensure that the workflow runs quickly and efficiently, providing timely feedback on compatibility issues.

Conclusion

Automating Camunda Compatibility Tests with GitHub Workflows is a crucial step in ensuring the stability and reliability of your Camunda deployments. By implementing a daily workflow that retrieves version tags, generates a version matrix, runs CPT tests, collects tested combinations, and reports failures, you can proactively identify and address compatibility issues.

This article has provided a comprehensive guide to designing and implementing such a workflow, covering key aspects such as workflow structure, dynamic version matrix generation, persisting tested combinations, and reporting failures. By following these guidelines, you can create a robust and efficient automated testing system that helps you maintain a high-quality Camunda platform.

For further reading on GitHub Actions and workflow automation, visit the official GitHub Actions Documentation. This resource provides in-depth information on all aspects of GitHub Actions, from basic concepts to advanced features.