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Overview

In this lesson, we’ll design a GitHub Actions CI/CD pipeline for our Node.js application. We’ll begin by mapping out all nine tasks, then dive into the first four:
  1. Analyze the Node.js codebase
  2. Define DevOps requirements
  3. Identify dependencies and environment variables
  4. Draft the workflow YAML structure
Once the groundwork is set, we’ll implement jobs for:
  • Unit testing
  • Code coverage
  • Containerization
Let’s get started!

Roadmap: All Nine Tasks

Before proceeding, ensure you have:
  • Node.js (v16+) installed
  • A GitHub repository with your Node.js project
  • Basic familiarity with YAML syntax

1. Analyze the Node.js Codebase

Start by exploring your application’s entry point (index.js or app.js) and folder structure:
  • Verify test coverage tools (e.g., Jest).
  • Confirm environment variable usage (dotenv, process.env).

2. Define DevOps Requirements

Document your CI/CD goals:
  • Which Node.js versions to test?
  • Required environment variables (e.g., DATABASE_URL, API_KEY).
  • Build matrix (operating systems, Node versions).
Use a .github/workflows/ci.yml stub:

3. Inventory Dependencies & Environments

List all production and dev dependencies from package.json:
Confirm:
  • Lockfile (package-lock.json or yarn.lock) is checked in.
  • Secrets are added to GitHub under Settings > Secrets and variables > Actions.

4. Draft Initial Workflow Structure

Define job placeholders:
Next steps:
  1. Install Node.js and cache dependencies.
  2. Run tests with coverage.
  3. Build Docker image.
Always pin action versions (e.g., actions/checkout@v3) to avoid unexpected breaking changes.

Next Up

In the upcoming session, we’ll:
  1. Configure Node.js setup and caching
  2. Add the unit-test job using Jest
  3. Generate and upload code coverage reports

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