Introduction
The Importance of Jenkins UI Customization
Jenkins is an open-source automation server that is widely used for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. It provides a web interface, which allows users to interact with Jenkins easily. However, the default user interface might not always meet users’ needs.
That’s when UI customization comes into play. Customizing the Jenkins UI is essential to enhance user experience and improve productivity.
It enables users to tailor the environment to their specific requirements by adding new features, removing unwanted elements, or changing the look and feel of the UI. This can be done through various methods such as modifying CSS stylesheets, creating custom views, or using plugins.
Explanation of Jenkins UI Customization
Jenkins UI customization refers to the process of modifying or extending the web interface provided by Jenkins through different techniques to create a more personalized experience for users. There are several reasons why someone might want to customize their Jenkins UI.
For example, it could be to improve user productivity by reducing clutter and noise on dashboard screens or adding quick access buttons for frequently-used features. Another reason could be branding – custom logos and color schemes can give a unique look and feel that aligns with your organization’s branding.
Overview of what will be covered in the article
This article will provide a comprehensive introduction to Jenkins UI customization. It will cover various aspects such as getting started with customizing Jenkins, creating custom views, changing logos and favicons, modifying CSS stylesheets, using plugins for customization purposes, and even advanced techniques like modifying global navigation menus. By reading this article thoroughly from start to finish, you should have gained sufficient knowledge on how you can customize your own instance of Jenkins’ user interface according to your specific needs!
Getting Started with Jenkins UI Customization
Prerequisites for Jenkins UI Customization
Before diving into Jenkins UI customization, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of its prerequisites. Firstly, ensure that you have a basic knowledge of Jenkins and its installation process on your system.
You can check the official documentation to know more about the process. A good understanding of HTML, CSS and JavaScript is also required as these languages are extensively used in customizing the look and feel of the Jenkins User Interface.
Next, you will need access to a Linux or Windows-based environment where you can install Jenkins. It is recommended that you use a standalone machine or virtual machine with sufficient resources like RAM and CPU power so as not to overwhelm your host operating system.
Installing and Configuring Jenkins
Once you have met the prerequisites, it’s time to download and install Jenkins on your local machine or server. The latest version can be downloaded from their official website. Once downloaded, follow the installation instructions provided by the installer wizard which includes setting up an initial admin account along with plugins that are needed for basic functionality.
After installing, go through initial setup wizard which opens up after starting up your newly installed instance of Jenkins in an internet browser. During this setup wizard process, you will need to configure some essential aspects such as setting up user accounts for security purposes and configuring plugins necessary for running builds.
Understanding the basics of Jenkins UI
To begin customizing the look and feel of your new installation of Jenkins requires a good understanding of its User Interface (UI). When it comes to understanding what makes up the interface there are essentially two main components: The Navigation Menu & The Content Area.
The navigation menu contains links directing users towards different areas within their instance such as managing build jobs or configuring nodes while content area displays details about what specific page or action they are currently viewing. Jenkins’ user interface is built on a combination of HTML, CSS and JavaScript, which means that customization can be done to the look and feel of the UI by modifying these files.
Customizing the Look and Feel of Jenkins UI
Changing the Logo and Favicon
The Jenkins interface can be customized to include a logo and favicon that matches your company’s branding. To add a custom logo, navigate to ‘Manage Jenkins’ > ‘Configure System’.
In the ‘Jenkins Location’ section, you’ll see an option to upload a new logo image under ‘System Logo’. Once uploaded, save your changes and refresh the page.
Your new logo should appear in the top left corner of the Jenkins interface. Adding a custom favicon is just as straightforward.
Navigate back to ‘Manage Jenkins’ > ‘Configure System’. Scroll down to the ‘Jenkins URL’ section and you’ll see an option to upload a new favicon image under ‘Favicon Image’.
Once uploaded, save your changes and refresh the page. Your new favicon should now be visible in your browser’s tab when viewing Jenkins.
Modifying CSS Stylesheets
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used in web development to define how elements on a page are styled and displayed. As such, CSS can be used to customize almost any aspect of the Jenkins interface. To begin modifying CSS in Jenkins, navigate to ‘Manage Jenkins’ > ‘Configure System’, scroll down until you find an option labelled “Theme” with several options underneath it: “Classic”, “Dark”, “Dark Blue”, etc… Selecting any of these options will allow you to edit their respective CSS files or create custom ones that override them.
Before making edits directly within CSS files, it’s important to understand how they’re structured within Jenkins. Each theme has its own set of .css files located in `jenkinsHome/war/themes`.
The main file is always named `theme.css`, which sets global styles for elements across all pages. Other theme-specific files like `login.css` and `layout.css` can also be edited to further customize the interface.
Once you’ve identified the files you’d like to modify, make a backup of the original .css files in case of errors. Then, edit them using any text editor and save your changes.
Refresh Jenkins in the browser to see your changes take effect. With a bit of CSS knowledge and experimentation, you can transform Jenkins into a custom-branded platform that’s tailored perfectly to your needs.
Creating Custom Views in Jenkins UI
Customizing the views in Jenkins is an essential part of creating a more personalized and efficient user experience. A view is a way to present specific information to the user, usually based on certain criteria such as job type or status. Jenkins provides several predefined views for different purposes, but it’s often necessary to create a custom view tailored to the team’s or individual’s workflow.
Overview of Views in Jenkins
In Jenkins, there are many types of views available that provide different ways of presenting data. Some of the most commonly used ones include List View, Pipeline View, and Dashboard View.
Each view has its own characteristics that make it suitable for particular purposes. The List View shows all jobs and folders in a table format with various columns displaying useful information such as job name, build status, and duration.
The Pipeline View provides visual representation of pipeline jobs with their stages represented by rectangles connected by arrows indicating their direction of flow while also showing build status information. Dashboard View can be customized with widgets that display different kinds of information about your jobs using plugins which we will cover later on.
Creating a New View from Scratch
Customizing the views allows users to access job-related details quickly without having to navigate through multiple pages or menus repeatedly. Creating a new view from scratch requires the user first accesses “New Item” from Jenkins’ dashboard and fills out the necessary details required such as name etc., then selects “Build a new view” option and assigns it an appropriate name.
Adding Widgets to Views
Widgets are tools used in customizing views by adding relevant information about jobs which can be easily accessed by users without interfering with other features/functions provided by Jenkins UI. Users can add widgets via drag-and-drop functionality within an already created view or choose them from available ones using “Add Widgets” option. Some widgets that are commonly used include Build History, Test Results, and Job List widgets.
Organizing Widgets within Views
Organizing widgets within a view is essential to maximize the visual impact of the data presented. Users can use drag-and-drop functionality to move the added widgets around and place them wherever they prefer. Organizing them in an appropriate order will allow users to access relevant data quickly without having to scroll through vast amounts of information.
Different views require different widget layouts so it’s important to consider what type of information should be accessed and in what order. Creating custom views in Jenkins is an excellent way to tailor the UI experience for your team or individual workflow.
With this feature, users can access pertinent job-related data with ease while minimizing navigational requirements, thereby increasing overall efficiency. Remember that when creating custom views, it’s essential to consider your team’s needs and workflow while maintaining proper organization and layout for optimal use.
Advanced Techniques for Customizing Jenkins UI
Customizing User Interface with Plugins
Plugins are an essential part of Jenkins that can extend its functionality beyond its default features. They offer a wide range of customization options and can help you achieve more complex tasks that otherwise would be impossible to achieve.
Jenkins has an extensive plugin ecosystem, and it is effortless to find a plugin that fits your needs. Some popular plugins for customizing the user interface include Dashboard View, Active Choices, and Pipeline Steps.
Overview on plugins
Plugins are Java archives (.jar) files that add new features or modify the existing ones in Jenkins. They can integrate your applications with other tools in your environment, build custom dashboards, and provide additional automation capabilities to enhance continuous integration processes. Plugins can be used for various purposes such as source code management, build triggers, testing frameworks, deployment automation tools among others.
Installing plugins
To install a plugin in Jenkins go to the “Manage Jenkins” section on the left-hand side menu and then click on “Manage Plugins.” In this section, you will find all available plugins sorted by categories such as “Installed,” “Available,” and “Updates.” You can use the search bar to find specific plugins for your needs. Once you find a plugin you want to install click on the checkbox next to it then click on “Download now and install after restart.”
Customizing user interface with plugins
Using Plugins is one of the easiest ways to customize the Jenkins UI. Once you have installed a plugin, you need first to configure it via its settings page if needed before using it. After configuration is complete, refer to its documentation or ask its community for further instructions or help using them.
Modifying Global Navigation Menu
Another advanced technique is modifying global navigation menus. The global navigation menu is the primary navigation menu in Jenkins UI, which allows easy access to all the essential Jenkins features. Modifying it can help you enhance your user experience by adding new links to relevant pages or removing unused ones.
Customizing Global Navigation Menu
You can customize the global navigation menu easily by using a plugin called “Navigation Bar.” This plugin allows adding, reordering and removing items in the Jenkins global navigation bar. To use this plugin, install it first, then go to “Manage Jenkins” -> “Configure System,” scroll down to the Navigation Bar section and add new links or edit existing ones.
Conclusion
Jenkins UI customization is an important aspect of CI/CD pipelines that helps users tailor their experience based on their specific needs. In this article, we have covered advanced techniques like using plugins and modifying global navigation menus that will allow you to take your customization efforts further than ever before.
By implementing these techniques, you will have more control over how your users interact with Jenkins and make it more efficient for them. With these tips in mind, you should be able to get started on customizing your own UI in no time!
