Jenkins Tutorial

Last Updated : 4 Feb, 2026

Jenkins is a free, open-source automation tool that helps developers to build, test and deploy software faster and with fewer errors. It plays an important role in DevOps by supporting Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines.

Why Learn Jenkins?

  • Automate building, testing, and deploying code using CI/CD pipelines.
  • In-demand skill for DevOps and automation roles.
  • Saves time by automating repetitive tasks.
  • Integrates well with popular tools like Git, Docker, and Kubernetes.
  • Improves team collaboration with continuous integration.
  • Supports large projects with distributed builds.
  • Support multiple plugins.

Before Jenkins, software development was slow and messy. Developers from different countries worked at different times and submitted code changes, that causes integration conflicts, delays, and many bugs. Teams had to wait until all coding was done before testing, which made fixing errors slow and frustrating.

Jenkins fixed this issue by automating builds and tests. It lets developers submit code anytime, automatically checking for issues right away. This catches bugs early and helps release software faster and more reliably.

Prerequisites

Before starting with Jenkins, it's recommended to have a basic understanding of software development and DevOps concepts. This will help you use Jenkins more effectively:

Getting Started with Jenkins

In this section, you will learn the fundamental concepts of Jenkins, including what Jenkins is, the basics of continuous integration and delivery, and an introduction to Jenkins pipelines as code.

Installation & Update of Jenkins

Jenkins was developed using Java programming language before you need to install Jenkins you need to install Java on the system in which you are going to install Jenkins.

Go through the below references to know the installation of Java and Jenkins on different operating systems, as well as how to update Jenkins to the latest versions.

Jenkins - Git, Maven, and Docker Configuration, Integration & Setup

After installing Jenkins, the next step is to connect it with key tools for a full Continuous Integration pipeline. Developers use GitHub to manage code, Maven to build and test it, SonarQube to check code quality, and Nexus to store build artifacts. Jenkins automates the entire process, handling builds, tests, and deployments smoothly.

Jenkins

Jenkins - Credentials & Port

Managing ports and passwords properly keeps Jenkins secure and ensures it works smoothly with other services. Jenkins offers a Credentials Plugin that allows you safely store and manage passwords, API keys, and sensitive information.

Learning how to configure ports and manage credentials helps protect your Jenkins environment from unauthorized access and keeps your automation processes secure and stable.

Projects Or Jobs

Jenkins projects, also called Jenkins jobs, are the basic units of work in Jenkins. These jobs define tasks or processes that Jenkins performs based on specific triggers or configurations. Learn how to create and configure these projects to automate your build and deployment workflows using the below reference.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery Pipeline (CI/CD Pipeline)

CI/CD pipelines serve as the backbone of software delivery, orchestrating tasks seamlessly from development through to production. These pipelines automate the integration of code changes, execute comprehensive testing procedures, and deploying applications. This automation speeds up releases while maintaining high quality and reliability.

In this section, you will explore how Jenkins manages CI/CD pipelines and learn to create pipelines for different applications.

Managing Plugins

Plugins make Jenkins more useful by letting you add new features, connect with other tools, and automate tasks in your CI/CD pipelines. This section will help you learn the basics of Jenkins plugins and how to use them well.

Unit Testing (Code Quality Review)

Now that you have leant how to use plugins, the next important step is testing your code. Testing helps to make your software works correctly and stays easy to maintain. In this part, you’ll learn how to use the JaCoCo plugin to run tests and see reports that show how much of your code is tested. This helps you in finding problems early and keep your code running smoothly.

Security

Security is very important when using Jenkins to keep your private information safe and stop unauthorized access to your projects. Using the right security steps helps to protect your CI/CD pipeline and keeps your development process secure.

Learn simple security tips, how to manage access controls, and how to reset Jenkins security settings using the command line if needed.

Jenkins - Notification

Jenkins notifications play a major role which will helps the users to know the status of the builds, test results and all other events which are important in Jenkins. Jenkins offers some in built plugins for sending the notification about the builds happening in Jenkins.

Jenkins - Triggering Builds Remotely

Earlier, Developers used to manually log into the Jenkins web interface to start build jobs, which was time consuming and slowed down the development process. To resolve this issue, Jenkins allows builds to be triggered remotely - which means you can start build from anywhere without needing direct access to the Jenkins dashboard. This is done using a secure API token or by connecting Jenkins to your code system with webhooks.

One essential component of automating the software development process is setting up Jenkins to trigger builds. Jenkins provides a number of ways to start builds either manually or automatically using preset triggers.

Jenkins - Restart(Build Number, Server, Security)

Restarting Jenkins involves a few important tasks like safely rebooting the Jenkins server, managing security configurations, and resetting build numbers if needed.

This section will help you to know how to properly restart Jenkins manually, reset security settings using the command line, and reset build numbers to ensure your Jenkins environment stays stable and secure.

Jenkins - Master-Slave Configuration

Master Slave Configuration in Jenkins will distribute the workloads across multiple machines for efficient build execution. The slaves are the worker machines that actually run and execute the jobs and are also called agents this all will be coordinated by the Jenkins master node.

Jenkins VS Other CI/CD Tools

While Jenkins is a leading choice for automating CI/CD pipelines, it's important to explore other tools to find the best fit for your project’s requirements. Different tools excel in various areas such as ease of setup, cloud integration, scalability, or user interface. Comparing Jenkins with alternatives like Travis CI, CircleCI, GitLab CI, and Bamboo can provide valuable insights into their unique features, performance, and workflow support. Understanding these differences helps teams select the right tool that aligns with their development environment and goals.

Jenkins - CLI

Jenkins Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows you interact with Jenkins directly from your terminal or through scripts. It provides a wide range of commands to help you manage Jenkins efficiently—whether you want to automate tasks, integrate Jenkins with other tools, or perform administrative actions. Using the CLI makes managing Jenkins faster and easier, especially for repetitive or complex operations.

Jenkins - Sample Application Deployment Projects

Deploying sample applications with Jenkins helps you practice automating the full software lifecycle—from building and testing to deploying your app. Working on these projects not only strengthens your Jenkins skills but also gives you practical experience to highlight on your resume. Here are some example projects to get you started and showcase on your resume:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Jenkins

Advantages of JenkinsDisadvantages of Jenkins
Automates build, test, and deployment processesRequires initial setup and configuration
Supports continuous integration and continuousCan be complex to manage for large projects or teams
delivery (CI/CD) pipelinesRequires dedicated infrastructure and maintenance
Integrates with a wide range of tools and technologiesMay encounter plugin compatibility issues
Provides extensive plugin ecosystem for customizationSteeper learning curve for beginners
Facilitates collaboration and team productivityCan lead to dependency on automation
Enables monitoring and reporting of build statusesMay require additional resources for optimal performance
Helps in detecting and fixing bugs early in theRisk of security vulnerabilities if not properly configured

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