Demo Jenkins CLI Edit a Freestyle Job

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to fetch, modify, and update a Freestyle job (npm-version-test) on Jenkins using the Jenkins CLI. The job prints the installed Node.js and npm versions. We’ll download its XML configuration, adjust the build steps, and push the changes back.

Prerequisites

Jenkins server accessible at http://localhost:8080/
jenkins-cli.jar downloaded locally
CLI access via SSH; for example:
ssh -l <user> -p <port> localhost

Authentication Method	Command Example
HTTP	`java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://localhost:8080/ help`
SSH	`ssh -l siddharth -p 41397 localhost help`

1. Check Installed Node.js & npm

First, verify your local Node.js and npm versions:

node -v
npm -v

2. Download the Job Configuration

Fetch the existing job’s XML to a local file.

2.1 Using HTTP

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://localhost:8080/ get-job npm-version-test > npm-job.xml

2.2 Using SSH

ssh -l siddharth -p 41397 localhost get-job npm-version-test > npm-job.xml

Always back up your existing XML before editing. You can keep a copy:

cp npm-job.xml npm-job.xml.bak

3. Inspect the Current Configuration

Open npm-job.xml and locate the <builders> section. It should resemble:

<project>
  ...
  <builders>
    <hudson.tasks.Shell>
      <command>node -v</command>
      <configuredLocalRules/>
    </hudson.tasks.Shell>
  </builders>
  ...
</project>

4. Update the Build Steps

Modify npm-job.xml so the shell step echoes a message and invokes both Node.js and npm versions. Replace the <builders> section with:

<project>
  ...
  <builders>
    <hudson.tasks.Shell>
      <command>
        echo "Updating job config using Jenkins CLI"
        node -v
        npm -v
      </command>
      <configuredLocalRules/>
    </hudson.tasks.Shell>
  </builders>
  ...
  <buildWrappers>
    <jenkins.plugins.timestamper.TimestamperBuildWrapper plugin="timestamper@1.27"/>
    <jenkins.plugins.nodejs.NodeJSBuildWrapper plugin="nodejs@1.6.2">
      <nodeJSInstallationName>nodejs-22-6-0</nodeJSInstallationName>
      <cacheLocationStrategy class="jenkins.plugins.nodejs.cache.DefaultCacheLocationLocator"/>
    </jenkins.plugins.nodejs.NodeJSBuildWrapper>
  </buildWrappers>
</project>

Save your edits to npm-job.xml.

5. Push the Updated Configuration

Send the modified XML back to Jenkins:

5.1 Via SSH

ssh -l siddharth -p 41397 localhost update-job npm-version-test < npm-job.xml

5.2 Via HTTP

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://localhost:8080/ update-job npm-version-test < npm-job.xml

A successful update returns no output.

6. Verify Your Changes

In the Jenkins UI, open npm-version-test.

Check that the build step now shows:

echo "Updating job config using Jenkins CLI"
node -v
npm -v

Trigger a new build. The console log should display something like:

Started by user siddharth
Building on the built-in node in workspace /var/lib/jenkins/workspace/npm-version-test
+ echo Updating job config using Jenkins CLI
Updating job config using Jenkins CLI
+ node -v
v22.6.0
+ npm -v
10.8.2
Finished: SUCCESS

That’s it! You’ve successfully edited a Freestyle job’s configuration and updated it in Jenkins using the CLI.

Introduction and Basics

Jenkins Setup and Interface

Extending Jenkins and Administration

Jenkins Pipelines

Automation and Security

Setting up CI Pipeline

Code Quality and Testing

Containerization and Deployment

Kubernetes and GitOps

AWS Lambda and Advanced Deployment Techniques

Jenkins Administration and Monitoring - Part 1

Shared Libraries in Jenkins

Agents and Nodes in Jenkins

Pipeline Enhancement and Caching

Pipeline Structure and Scripted vs Declarative

Jenkins Administration and Monitoring - Part 2

Backup and Configuration Management

Demo Jenkins CLI Edit a Freestyle Job

Prerequisites

1. Check Installed Node.js & npm

2. Download the Job Configuration

2.1 Using HTTP

2.2 Using SSH

3. Inspect the Current Configuration

4. Update the Build Steps

5. Push the Updated Configuration

5.1 Via SSH

5.2 Via HTTP

6. Verify Your Changes

Watch Video

​Prerequisites

​1. Check Installed Node.js & npm

​2. Download the Job Configuration

​2.1 Using HTTP

​2.2 Using SSH

​3. Inspect the Current Configuration

​4. Update the Build Steps

​5. Push the Updated Configuration

​5.1 Via SSH

​5.2 Via HTTP

​6. Verify Your Changes

Watch Video

Prerequisites

1. Check Installed Node.js & npm

2. Download the Job Configuration

2.1 Using HTTP

2.2 Using SSH

3. Inspect the Current Configuration

4. Update the Build Steps

5. Push the Updated Configuration

5.1 Via SSH

5.2 Via HTTP

6. Verify Your Changes