#CI/CD automation

[jcmarchi]

A Few Ways That Cloudways Makes Running This Site a Little Easier

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/a-few-ways-that-cloudways-makes-running-this-site-a-little-easier/

A Few Ways That Cloudways Makes Running This Site a Little Easier

It’s probably no surprise to you that CSS-Tricks is (proudly) hosted on Cloudways, DigitalOcean’s managed hosting arm. Given both CSS-Tricks and Cloudways are part of DigitalOcean, it was just a matter of time before we’d come together this way. And here we are!

We were previously hosted on Flywheel which was a fairly boutique WordPress hosting provider until WP Engine purchased it years back. And, to be very honest and up-front, Flywheel served us extremely well. There reached a point when it became pretty clear that CSS-Tricks was simply too big for Flywheel to scale along. That might’ve led us to try out WP Engine in the absence of Cloudways… but it’s probably good that never came to fruition considering recent events.

Anyway, moving hosts always means at least a smidge of contest-switching. Different server names with different configurations with different user accounts with different controls.

We’re a pretty low-maintenance operation around here, so being on a fully managed host is a benefit because I see very little of the day-to-day nuance that happens on our server. The Cloudways team took care of all the heavy lifting of migrating us and making sure we were set up with everything we needed, from SFTP accounts and database access to a staging environment and deployment points.

Our development flow used to go something like this:

Fire up Local (Flywheel’s local development app)

Futz around with local development

Push to main

Let a CI/CD pipeline publish the changes

I know, ridiculously simple. But it was also riddled with errors because we didn’t always want to publish changes on push. There was a real human margin of error in there, especially when handling WordPress updates. We could have (and should have) had some sort of staging environment rather than blindly trusting what was working locally. But again, we’re kinduva a ragtag team despite the big corporate backing.

The flow now looks like this:

Fire up Local (we still use it!)

Futz around with local development

Push to main

Publish to staging

Publish to production

This is something we could have set up in Flywheel but was trivial with Cloudways. I gave up some automation for quality assurance’s sake. Switching environments in Cloudways is a single click and I like a little manual friction to feel like I have some control in the process. That might not scale well for large teams on an enterprise project, but that’s not really what Cloudways is all about — that’s why we have DigitalOcean!

See that baseline-status-widget branch in the dropdown? That’s a little feature I’m playing with (and will post about later). I like that GitHub is integrated directly into the Cloudways UI so I can experiment with it in whatever environment I want, even before merging it with either the staging or master branches. It makes testing a whole lot easier and way less error-prone than triggering auto-deployments in every which way.

Here’s another nicety: I get a good snapshot of the differences between my environments through Cloudways monitoring. For example, I was attempting to update our copy of the Gravity Forms plugin just this morning. It worked locally but triggered a fatal in staging. I went in and tried to sniff out what was up with the staging environment, so I headed to the Vulnerability Scanner and saw that staging was running an older version of WordPress compared to what was running locally and in production. (We don’t version control WordPress core, so that was an easy miss.)

I hypothesized that the newer version of Gravity Forms had a conflict with the older version of WordPress, and this made it ridiculously easy to test my assertion. Turns out that was correct and I was confident that pushing to production was safe and sound — which it was.

That little incident inspired me to share a little about what I’ve liked about Cloudways so far. You’ll notice that we don’t push our products too hard around here. Anytime you experience something delightful — whatever it is — is a good time to blog about it and this was clearly one of those times.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Cloudways is ideal for any size or type of WordPress site. It’s one of the few hosts that will let you BOYO cloud, so to speak, where you can hold your work on a cloud server (like a DigitalOcean droplet, for instance) and let Cloudways manage the hosting, giving you all the freedom to scale when needed on top of the benefits of having a managed host. So, if you need a fully managed, autoscaling hosting solution for WordPress like we do here at CSS-Tricks, Cloudways has you covered.

[gqattech]

Cloud Platforms Testing at GQAT Tech: Powering Scalable, Reliable Apps

In today's digital world, most companies use the cloud to host their software, store their data, and provide users with seamless experiences and interactions, meaning their cloud-based systems have to be fast and secure (it could be an e-commerce site, a mobile app, or corporate software platform) and be able to provide a robust reliable level of service that does not fail. All this hard work to develop a cloud-based application means nothing if the application is not subjected to testing and verification to work properly in different cloud environments.

Credit should be given to GQAT Tech for making cloud platform testing a core competency, as the entire QA team tests applications in the cloud, on cloud-based platforms, i.e., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or Private Cloud, while testing for performance, security, scalability, and functionality.

Now, let's explore the definition of cloud platform testing, what it is, why it is important, and how GQAT Tech can help your company be successful in the cloud.

What Is Cloud Platform Testing?

Cloud platform testing provides validation of whether a web or mobile application will function correctly in a cloud-based environment (as compared to on a physical server).

It involves testing how well your app runs on services like:

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Microsoft Azure

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

IBM Cloud

Private/Hybrid cloud setups

The goal is to ensure your app is:

Scalability - Will it support more users over time with no performance degradation?  

Improve security - Is my data protected from being compromised/attacked?  

Stability - Is it repeatably functioning (no crashing or errors)?  

Speed - Is the load time fast enough for users worldwide?  

Cost - Is it utilizing cloud resources efficiently?

GQAT Tech’s Cloud Testing Services

GQAT Tech employs a hybrid process of manual testing, automated scripts, and real cloud environments to validate/applications in the most representative manner. The QA team manages real-time performance, availability, and security across systems.

Services Offered:

Functional Testing on Cloud

Validates that your app will behave in an appropriate way while hosted on different cloud providers.

Performance & Load Testing

Validates how your app behaves when 10, 100, or 10,000 users are accessing it at the same time.

Scalability Testing

Validates whether your app is capable of scaling up or down based on usage.

Security Testing

Validates for vulnerabilities specific to clouds: data leak vulnerabilities, misconfigured access, and DDoS risks.

Disaster Recovery & Backup Validation

Validates whether systems can be restored after failure or downtime.

Cross-Platform Testing

Validates your application's performance across AWS, Azure, GCP, and Private Cloud Systems.

Why Cloud Testing Is Important

By not testing your application in the cloud, you expose yourself to significant risks such as:

App crashes when usage is highest

Data loss because of inadequate backup

Cloud bills that are expensive due to inefficient usage

Security breaches due to weaker settings

Downtime that impacts customer frustration

All of these situations can be prevented and you can ensure your app runs smoothly every day with cloud testing.

Tools Used by GQAT Tech

GQAT Tech uses advanced tools for cloud testing:

Apache JMeter – Load testing and stress testing

Postman – API testing for cloud services

Selenium / Appium – Automated UI testing

K6 & Gatling – Performance testing

AWS/Azure/GCP Test Environments – Real cloud validation

CI/CD Pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions) – Continuous cloud-based testing

Who Needs Cloud Platform Testing?

GQAT Tech works with startups, enterprises, and SaaS providers across industries like:

E-commerce

Healthcare

Banking & FinTech

Logistics & Travel

IoT & Smart Devices

Education & LMS platforms

If your product runs in the cloud, you need to test it in the cloud—and that’s exactly what GQAT does.

Conclusion

Cloud computing provides flexibility, speed, and power—but only if your applications are tested and validated appropriately. With GQAT Tech's cloud platform testing services, you can be confident that your application will work as required under all real-world environments.

They will help eliminate downtime, enhance app performance, protect user data and help optimize cloud expenditure—so you can expand your business without concern.

💬 Ready to test smarter in the cloud? 👉 Explore Cloud Platform Testing Services at GQAT Tech

[websaritsolutions]

https://websartech.com/devops

[tccicomputercoaching]

DevOps: Bridging Development & Operations

In the whirlwind environment of software development, getting code quickly and reliably from concept to launch is considered fast work. There has usually been a wall between the "Development" (Dev) and the "Operations" (Ops) teams that has usually resulted in slow deployments, conflicts, and inefficiencies. The DevOps culture and practices have been created as tools to close this gap in a constructive manner by fostering collaboration, automation, and continuous delivery.

DevOps is not really about methodology; it's more of a philosophy whereby developers and operations teams are brought together to collaborate and increase productivity by automation of infrastructure and workflows and continuous assessment of application's performance. Today, it is imperative for any tech-savvy person to have the basic know-how of DevOps methodologies-adopting them-and especially in fast-developing IT corridors like Ahmedabad.

Why DevOps is Crucial in Today's Tech Landscape

It is very clear that the benefits of DevOps have led to its adoption worldwide across industries:

Offering Faster Time-to-Market: DevOps has automated steps, placing even more importance on collaboration, manuals, to finish testing, and to deploy applications very fast.

Ensuring Better Quality and Reliability: With continuous testing, integration, and deployment, we get fewer bugs and more stable applications.

Fostering Collaboration: It removes traditional silos between teams, thus promoting shared responsibility and communication.

Operational Efficiency and Cost-Saving: It automates repetitive tasks, eliminates manual efforts, and reduces errors.

Building Scalability and Resilience: DevOps practices assist in constructing scalable systems and resilient systems that can handle grow-thrust of users.

Key Pillars of DevOps

A few of the essential practices and tools on which DevOps rests:

Continuous Integration (CI): Developers merge their code changes into a main repository on a daily basis, in which automated builds and tests are run to detect integration errors early. Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps.

Continuous Delivery / Deployment: Builds upon CI to automatically build, test, and prepare code changes for release to production. Continuous Deployment then deploys every valid change to production automatically. Tools: Jenkins, Spinnaker, Argo CD.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Managing and provisioning infrastructure through code instead of through manual processes. Manual processes can lead to inconsistent setups and are not easily repeatable. Tools: Terraform, Ansible, Chef, Puppet.

Monitoring & Logging: Monitor the performance of applications as well as the health of infrastructure and record logs to troubleshoot and detect issues in the shortest possible time. Tools: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana).

Collaboration and Communication: On the other hand, it is a cultural change towards open communication, working jointly, and feedback loops.

Essential Skills for a DevOps Professional

If you want to become a DevOps Engineer or start incorporating DevOps methodologies into your day-to-day work, these are some skills to consider:

Linux Basics: A good understanding of Linux OS is almost a prerequisite, as most servers run on Linux.

Scripting Languages: Having a working understanding of one or another scripting language (like Python, Bash, or PowerShell) comes in handy in automation.

Cloud Platforms: Working knowledge of cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, given cloud infrastructure is an integral part of deployments nowadays.

Containerization: These include skills on containerization using Docker and orchestration using Kubernetes for application deployment and scaling.

CI/CD Tools: Good use of established CI/CD pipeline tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, etc.).

Version Control: Proficiency in Git through the life of the collaborative code change.

Networking Basics: Understanding of networking protocols and configurations.

Your Path to a DevOps Career

The demand for DevOps talent in India is rapidly increasing.. Since the times are changing, a lot of computer institutes in Ahmedabad are offering special DevOps courses which cover these essential tools and practices. It is advisable to search for programs with lab sessions, simulated real-world projects, and guidance on industry-best practices.

Adopting DevOps is more than just learning new tools; it is a mindset that values efficiency and trust in automation as well as seamless collaboration. With such vital skills, you can act as a critical enabler between development and operations to ensure the rapid release of reliable software, thereby guaranteeing your position as one of the most sought-after professionals in the tech world.

At TCCI, we don't just teach computers — we build careers. Join us and take the first step toward a brighter future.

Location: Bopal & Iskcon-Ambli in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Call now on +91 9825618292

Visit Our Website: http://tccicomputercoaching.com/

[kevinmarville]

Fixing Docker Run Issues Blocking GitHub Action PRs

github.com/All-Hands-AI/OpenHands/pull/8661 When a failing Docker command prevents a GitHub Action from completing a pull request, check the command syntax (--rm instead of --rn, properly formatted -v), review GitHub Action logs for error details, test locally, enable debug logging, and verify all dependencies. Ensuring proper setup helps prevent workflow disruptions.

[softwaredevelopmenthub25]

DevOps = Speed + Stability

Cut deployment times in half with SDH's DevOps experts. ⚙️

[asadmukhtarr]

"Continuous Delivery" by Jez Humble and David Farley is a seminal book that provides a comprehensive guide to achieving reliable, rapid, and repeatable software delivery. The book outlines principles, practices, and techniques that enable teams to deliver high-quality software efficiently. Below is a user-friendly, step-by-step breakdown of the key outcomes and takeaways from the book, designed to help readers understand and implement continuous delivery effectively.

[gqattech]

GQAT Tech’s QA Arsenal: Powerful Tools That Make Quality Assurance Smarter

In this technology-driven age, delivering high-quality software is not an optional function but a necessity. Clients now expect us to produce digital products— apps, websites, etc.-- that are made quickly and error-free. The best way to achieve this is with a quality assurance (QA) process and effective tools to adapt to their needs.

The GQAT Tech QA team calls their QA efficient and effective tools combined, and their QA arsenal productive platforms, automation, tools, and proven processes. These testing tools and approaches can help a QA team find bugs more quickly, decrease hands-on effort, and allow more test coverage depending on the software project.

Now, let's look at what a QA Arsenal is, why it is important, and how QA will help your business produce better software.

What is the QA Arsenal?

The "QA Arsenal" refers to the collection of tools, frameworks, and strategies at GQAT Tech that the QA team employs to provide quality testing to clients.  The QA Arsenal is like a toolbox, where everything a tester needs to complete the project is in the toolbox. 

It includes:

Automation testing tools

Manual testing techniques

Defect tracking systems

Performance testing platforms

Mobile and web testing tools

CI/CD integrations

Reporting and analytics dashboards

What Makes GQAT’s QA Arsenal Unique?

We do not use tools haphazardly. We use the most appropriate tools based on the client's type of project, technology stack, service timeline, and quality. The QA Arsenal is designed to offer flexibility and therefore considers: 

Web apps

Mobile apps

Embedded systems

IoT devices

Enterprise software

Whether functional test, compatibility test, API test, performance test, GQAT Tech utilizes a custom mixture of tools to ensure that it is reliable, secure, and ready for launch.

Tools Included in the QA Arsenal

Here are some common tools and platforms GQAT Tech uses:

🔹 Automation Tools

Selenium – For web application automation

Appium – For mobile app automation

TestNG / JUnit – For running and managing test cases

Robot Framework – For keyword-driven testing

Postman – For API testing

JMeter – For performance and load testing

🔹 Defect & Test Management

JIRA – To log, track, and manage bugs

TestRail / Zephyr – For test case management

Git & Jenkins – For CI/CD and version control

BrowserStack / Sauce Labs – For cross-browser and device testing

How It Helps Clients

Using the QA Arsenal allows GQAT Tech to:

Detect Bugs Early – Catch issues before they reach end-users

Save Time – Automation reduces time spent on repetitive tasks

Test on Real Devices – Ensures compatibility across systems

Generate Reports – Easy-to-read results and test status

Integrate with DevOps – Faster release cycles and fewer rollbacks

Improve Product Quality – Fewer bugs mean a better user experience

Real Results for Real Projects

GQAT Tech’s QA Arsenal has been successfully used across different domains like:

FinTech

Healthcare

E-commerce

Travel & Transport

EdTech

AI and IoT Platforms

With their domain expertise and knowledge of tools, they help businesses go faster, mitigate risks, and build customer diligence.

Conclusion

Building a great QA team is essential, but having them equipped with the right tools makes all the difference. GQAT Tech’s QA Arsenal provides their testers with everything they need to test faster, smarter, and more comprehensively.

If you are building a digital product and want to ensure it is released in the real world, you need a testing partner who does not leave things to chance. You need a testing partner with a battle-tested QA arsenal.

💬 Ready to experience smarter quality assurance?

👉 Explore GQAT Tech’s QA Arsenal and get in touch with their expert team today!

[assureqa-ai]

Top Automation Testing Tools: Why AssureQA Leads the Market

In today’s fast-paced software development world, automation testing tools are crucial for delivering high-quality applications. Among the top contenders, AssureQA stands out as a game-changer with its AI-powered automation, self-healing test scripts, and seamless CI/CD integration.

AssureQA helps teams reduce manual efforts, detect bugs faster, and optimize test execution, making it an essential tool for modern DevOps workflows. Its intuitive no-code/low-code platform allows beginners and experts to automate tests effortlessly.

If you’re looking for a scalable, efficient, and AI-driven test automation solution, AssureQA is the ultimate choice. Elevate your testing strategy today! 🚀

[artyommukhopad]

🚀 DevOps as a Service – Optimize, Automate & Scale!

Looking for a trusted DevOps partner to enhance your cloud operations, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure management, and cost optimization? SDH provides full-cycle DevOps consulting & implementation, ensuring high-quality software delivery with maximum efficiency.

✅ Infrastructure Management ✅ CI/CD Pipeline Automation ✅ Disaster Recovery & Monitoring ✅ Cost Optimization & Performance Scaling

💡 Why SDH? ✔️ Guaranteed SLA & 24/7 Support ✔️ Fully Managed DevOps Services ✔️ Custom Solutions for Scalability & Growth ✔️ Expert Team – No Freelancers, Direct Engagement

🔹 Pricing Plans: 💰 Small – $2,000/month (40h) 💰 Medium – $4,000/month (80h) 💰 Large – $6,000/month (120h)

Ready to boost agility, improve collaboration, and accelerate deployment? Let's talk!

📩 Contact us for a free consultation!

[javascript-testing-frameworks]

🚀 Best Open-Source DevOps Tools of 2024: Ready for 2025 Challenges!

In the fast-evolving tech landscape, tools like Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, and Prometheus are powering innovation in DevOps workflows. From automating tasks to managing infrastructure, these open-source tools are the backbone of modern development.

But with 2025 around the corner, challenges like scalability, security, and usability are emerging. How will these tools adapt? 🤔

👉 Dive into the full blog to find out: https://gegosoft.com/best-open-source-devops-tools-of-2024/

[sun-technologies]

Trends and Forecasts for Test Automation in 2025 and Beyond

Overview

The demand for advanced test automation is rising due to the rapid advancements in AI-driven futures, ML, and software. The scope of test automation is expanding from basic functionality tests to complex domains like security, data integrity, and user experience. The future of Quality Engineering will see new standards for efficiency, accuracy, and resilience.

AI-Powered Testing Will Set the Standard

By 2025, AI-driven testing will dominate test automation, with machine learning enabling early detection of shortcomings. AI-powered pattern recognition will enhance regression testing speed and reliability. By 2025, over 75% of test automation frameworks will have AI-based self-healing capabilities, creating a more robust and responsive testing ecosystem.

No-Code and Low-Code Testing Platforms' Ascent

The rapid development is prompting the rise of no-code and low-code test automation solutions. These platforms allow technical and non-technical users to write and perform tests without advanced programming skills. By 2026, they are predicted to be used in 80% of test automation procedures, promoting wider adoption across teams.

Testing that is Autonomous and Highly Automated

Hyper-automation, a combination of AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation, is revolutionizing commercial processes, particularly testing. By 2027, enterprises can automate up to 85% of their testing operations, enabling continuous testing and faster delivery times, reinforcing DevOps and agile methodologies.

Automated Testing for Privacy and Cybersecurity

Test automation is advancing in ensuring apps comply with global security standards and regulations, including GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. By 2025, security-focused test automation is expected to grow by 70%, becoming crucial in businesses requiring privacy and data integrity. This technology will enable real-time monitoring, threat detection, and mitigation in the face of increasing cyberattacks.

Testing Early in the Development Cycle

Shift-left testing is a popular method for detecting and addressing flaws in the early stages of development, reducing rework, and improving software quality. It is expected to increase as tests are integrated with advanced automation technologies. By 2025, DevOps-focused firms will use shift-left testing, reducing defect rates by up to 60% and shortening time-to-market.

Testing's Extension to Edge Computing and IoT

The increasing prevalence of IoT devices and edge computing will significantly complicate testing, necessitating numerous setup changes and real-time data handling due to network and device differences. By 2026, IoT and edge computing test automation will account for 45% of the testing landscape, with increasing demand in healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics.

The Need for Instantaneous Test Analytics and Reports

Real-time analytics are crucial in test automation, enabling data-driven decisions and improved test coverage, defect rates, and quality. By 2025, 65% of QA teams will use real-time analytics to monitor and optimize test automation tactics, resulting in a 30% increase in testing productivity.

Testing Across Platforms for Applications with Multiple Experiences

Multi-experience applications, which work across multiple platforms, require extensive testing for compatibility, responsiveness, and UX. By 2025, 80% of businesses will have implemented cross-platform test automation technologies, enhancing multi-experience application quality by 45%. AI-based tools will replicate human interaction across multiple platforms.

Using Containerization and Virtualization to Simulate Environments

Test automation relies heavily on virtualization and containerization, with Docker and Kubernetes technologies enabling virtualized environments that resemble production. By 2025, containerized testing environments will enable 65% of test automation, allowing quicker and more flexible testing solutions, reducing dependencies, and increasing testing scalability and accuracy.

The Expanding Function of AI-Powered RPA in Test Automation

RPA integrates with AI to create sophisticated automation solutions, increasing productivity in repetitive testing operations, data transfer, and system integrations. By 2026, AI-enhanced RPA will account for 45% of test automation in industries with highly repetitive testing, such as banking, healthcare, and manufacturing, enabling complex judgments and dependable outcomes.

An increasing emphasis on accessibility testing

Due to increased accessibility priorities, the demand for accessibility testing in businesses has surged. Automated tools will detect issues like color contrast, screen reader compatibility, and keyboard navigation assistance, ensuring WCAG compliance. By 2025, over 65% of enterprises aim for inclusive and accessible user experiences.

Accepting the Future of Automated Testing

The next generation of test automation, utilizing AI, machine learning, and RPA, holds immense potential for creating high-quality, secure, and user-friendly apps. Sun Technologies, a leading testing solutions provider, must stay ahead of these trends to provide clients with the most modern testing solutions available.

Are you set to transform your test automation journey?

Contact us at suntechnologies.com to learn more about how we can help you grasp the newest testing trends and technology.

Together, let's define the future of quality engineering!

[rajaniesh]

Optimizing Azure Container App Deployments: Best Practices for Pipelines & Security

🚀 Just shared a new blog on boosting Azure Container App deployments! Dive into best practices for Continuous Deployment, choosing the right agents, and securely managing variables. Perfect for making updates smoother and safer!

In the fifth part of our series, we explored how Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines and revisions bring efficiency to Azure Container Apps. From quicker feature rollouts to minimal downtime, CD ensures that you’re not just deploying updates but doing it confidently. Now, let’s take it a step further by optimizing deployments using Azure Pipelines. In this part, we’ll dive into the nuts and…