How to Implement Continuous Deployment for Java/JVM Web Applications

What are the best practices for implementing continuous deployment in Java or JVM-based web applications?

\@SpringBootApplication
public class Application {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SpringApplication.run(Application.class, args);
    }
}

Continuous deployment (CD) is a software release process that automatically deploys each code change to production after passing automated tests. This approach enhances software quality and accelerates feature delivery, making it essential for Java/JVM web applications.

pipeline {
    agent any
    stages {
        stage('Build') {
            steps {
                sh 'mvn clean package'
            }
        }
        stage('Deploy') {
            steps {
                sh 'docker run my-java-app'
            }
        }
    }
}

Causes

• Lack of automated testing frameworks
• Insufficient integration with CI/CD tools
• Failure to establish effective version control practices

Solutions

• Implement a CI/CD pipeline using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions to automate deployment processes.
• Ensure comprehensive unit and integration tests using frameworks like JUnit, Mockito, and Spring Test before running deployments.
• Utilize Docker or Kubernetes for containerization, ensuring consistent environments across development, testing, and production.

Mistake: Skipping tests before deployment.

Solution: Always integrate a testing phase in your CI/CD pipeline.

Mistake: Hardcoding environment variables.

Solution: Use configuration management tools like Spring Cloud Config or externalized configuration to manage settings.