The Top 10 Continuous Deployment and Delivery Tools

Argo CD is a GitOps continuous delivery tool designed for Kubernetes applications. The platform uses Git repositories as the source of truth to define the desired application state.

Argo CD operates as a Kubernetes controller, continuously monitoring applications and comparing the live state against the desired target state as mentioned in the Git repository. Any alterations made to the desired target state in the Git repository can be automatically applied and shown in the specified target environments.

Argo CD offers a broad range of features such as automated deployment of applications to designated target environments, support for multiple config management/templating tools, and ability to manage and deploy to multiple clusters. It also includes seamless integration with SSO (OIDC, OAuth2, LDAP, SAML 2.0, GitHub, GitLab, Microsoft, LinkedIn), multi-tenancy and RBAC policies for authorization.

Argo CD supports rollback to any application configuration committed in Git repository, automated configuration drift detection, as well as visualization and syncing of applications to a desired state either automatically or manually. It also provides a real-time view of application activity through its Web UI, along with CLI for automation and CI integration.

AWS CodeDeploy is a fully managed service that automates software deployments to multiple compute services, including Amazon EC2, Amazon ECS, AWS Lambda, and on-premises servers. This solution effectively eliminates the need for manual operations by automating the application deployment process.

Through AWS CodeDeploy, users can monitor the health of their application fleet and automatically roll back updates if deemed necessary. The AWS Management Console or AWS Command Line Interface allows users to launch and trace their application deployments’ status.

The service is designed to work seamlessly with your existing software release process or continuous delivery toolchain, allowing reuse of your current setup code for increased efficiency. AWS CodeDeploy supports a broad range of deployment types including in-place, canary, and blue/green deployments, offering flexibility for different scenarios. Users can also configure alarms to initiate rollbacks and halt ongoing application deployments.

AWS CodeDeploy integrates with various developer tools and configuration management tools. These integrations allow for continuous deployment of updates and reduced software delivery time. AWS CodeDeploy provides a streamlined and efficient approach to managing software deployments.

Azure Pipelines is a CI/CD platform that automates builds and deployments for any application. It supports Linux, macOS, and Windows and can manage web, mobile, and desktop applications. Its key objective is to reduce the time dedicated to technical activities, providing more space for creativity.

The service supports a wide array of languages and platforms including Node.js, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, C/C++, .NET, Android & iOS. Also, Azure Pipelines works with containers and Kubernetes, providing the capability to construct and push images to container registries like Docker Hub and Azure Container Registry.

It allows the deployment of software to any cloud, including Azure, AWS, and GCP. Additionally, Azure Pipelines is easily extensible with numerous community-built tasks and hundreds of extensions from Slack to SonarCloud. For GitHub uses, the platform provides integration with GitHub pull requests, checks, and statuses.

Azure Pipelines provides extensive security and compliance features, backed by Microsoft’s investment in cybersecurity research and development.

Atlassian’s Bitbucket Pipeline is a CI/CD tool that automates code from test to production. This feature is built into the Bitbucket platform, eliminating the need for additional servers, repositories, or user configuration. The tool is easy to set up with language-specific templates for powerful, automated workflows.

Bitbucket Pipelines offers Jira integration for improved visibility from backlog to deployment. There is a tracking feature through which the progress of pipelines can be monitored at each step. Bitbucket Pipes simplify the creation of automated workflows while the option of connecting to private runners hosted behind the firewall or on a private cloud is also available.

A key feature is deployment visibility, with a single location to see which version of the software is running in each environment. Deployments and code are tied together in the deployment summary, aiding collaboration across teams. The integration with Jira Service Management allows developers to manage IT change requests from Bitbucket Pipelines.

Pipelines supports any language or platform including Java, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Python, .NET Code, and more. There are no CI servers to set up or user management to configure. Pipelines pricing is based on how long your builds take to run, with additional CI capacity available as needed. The pipelines allow for unlimited concurrency, allowing multiple builds to run concurrently and start immediately when code is pushed to Bitbucket.

Flux is an open-source set of solutions that provide continuous and progressive delivery for Kubernetes. It is an extensible product by CNCF with features that allow it to manage any Kubernetes resource, including applications and infrastructure. Flux uses declarative automation and utilizes Git to describe the entire desired state of your system, including apps, configurations, and dashboards. The system syncs changes automatically, eliminating the need for manual input.

Flux’s operation allow for easy, auditable processes as all changes are controlled through pull requests. This provides your Git history with an accurate sequence of transactions, enabling you to recover the state from any snapshot. Using Flux, application deployment and progressive delivery are enabled and automatically reconciled. Flux offers several innovative features enhancing its versatility and flexibility. It allows the deployment of applications with features such as canaries, A/B rollouts, and flaggers. Further, it can manage any Kubernetes resource with in-built infrastructure and workload dependency management.

Flux can operate with existing tools, functioning with Git providers, major container registries, and CI workflow providers. Designed with security in mind, Flux practices pull against push, minimal privileges, and strict application of Kubernetes security policies. The platform also supports multi-tenancy and syncing of multiple Git repositories.

Flux allows effective management of systems through open and extensible GitOps, granting convenient access to a wide array of tools for system configuration and management.

GitHub Actions, an automation platform from GitHub, streamlines software processes for production with built-in Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) capabilities. It simplifies building, testing, deployment, and management of code directly from GitHub. GitHub Actions permits workflows to run with initiated GitHub events, such as a new release, issue creation, or a push.

GitHub Actions enables teams to consolidate and customize actions. Users can take advantage of GitHub Packages for effortless package management with fast distribution and dependency resolution, as facilitated by GITHUB_TOKEN. GitHub Actions also offer support for various runtimes including Node.js, Python, Java, Ruby, PHP, Go, Rust, and .NET, thus allowing users to build, test, and deploy in their preferred language.

The platform is versatile and supports different environments. Hosted runners for macOS, Windows, Linux, ARM, and containers are available for easy project build and testing, either directly on a VM or inside a container. Self-hosted runners can also be used with own VMs, either in the cloud or on-premises. The platform also enables real-time workflow runs with live logs which can be shared directly via clickable links.

GitHub Actions automate the development process with workflow files, integrating into the Git flow and incorporating built-in secret store for added security. The platform also enables multi-container testing and promotes community-powered workflows connecting seamlessly with existing tools for easy deployment to any cloud. The platform offers free CI/CD for public repositories with simplified, pay-as-you-go pricing for different plans.

GitLab Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD) seeks to streamline the entire software pipeline. With GitLab CI/CD, software can be built, tested, packaged, and deployed more efficiently. The goal is to eliminate laborious, manual tasks and instead encourage collaboration and innovation among software development teams, making continuous software enhancement achievable.

GitLab CI/CD is focused on enhancing the software development lifecycle through automation and transparency. It enables accelerated software releases by reducing manual intervention in the process. Additionally, it offers transparency and visibility by serving as a single point of reference for tracking the entire CI/CD pipeline, promoting standardization across numerous projects.

It’s equipped to support the complete software lifecycle, giving all team members the ability to monitor the status of the CI/CD pipeline. This application also facilitates the accelerated development of high-quality code, leading to faster releases and substantial cost savings. It incorporates in-context testing within every code change and merge request.

With an aim to enhance deployment strategies, GitLab CI/CD implements guardrails into the CI/CD pipeline for controlling failed and ineffective deployments. The platform’s flexibility allows it to deploy pipelines anywhere, including virtual machines, Kubernetes clusters, or Function-as-a-Service from multiple cloud vendors such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, or private clouds.

The platform is available in various tiers, each offering a unique set of features and compute minutes per month. These tiers include Free, Premium, and Ultimate, making it accessible for different user requirements. GitLab CI/CD is a comprehensive tool that facilitates effective software development processes, providing an integrated platform for the entire software development lifecycle.

Jenkins is an open source automation server that supports a broad scope of project-building activities. It’s known for its extensibility and ease of configuration, with hundreds of plugins available. These plugins allow for integration with virtually every tool used in continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines.

As a Java-based application, Jenkins ensures easy installation for various operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS. With its built-in web interface, setup and configuration processes have been made straightforward, supplemented by on-the-go error checks and helpful pointers. Jenkins can divide tasks across numerous machines, boosting the efficiency of builds, tests, and deployments across different platforms. The Jenkins infrastructure also supports expansion via its plugin system.

Jenkins also offers automated job definition. It enables the automatic creation, updating and deletion of jobs based on repositories it identifies in your software configuration management systems. This feature, coupled with Jenkins’ support for multiple alternatives for automatic job management (such as organization folders, multibranch Pipelines, and manually defined Pipeline jobs), makes Jenkins a solution-fit for efficient job structuring and specification.

Octopus Deploy simplifies the full deployment journey, making it easy to deploy software to various environments such as multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premises set-ups. It reduces risks associated with deployments by offering rollback capabilities, providing a safety net for operations.

One of the key features of Octopus Deploy is its consistent deployment process. The deployment process remains the same across all environments, ensuring smooth operation from development to production environments. Its built-in multi-tenancy support allows deployment to a wide array of customers without unnecessary duplication in the deployment process. For container-based deployments, Octopus Deploy provides easy access to platforms such as Kubernetes via its user-friendly interface.

Another advantage of this tool is its emphasis on governance, risk, and compliance. With standard features like full auditing, role-based access control, and single sign-on (SSO) support, Octopus Deploy ensures accountability and trust. It allows integration with service management tools to further streamline approval and deployment processes. In addition, Octopus Deploy’s Runbooks feature enables the automation of routine and emergency operational tasks, saving teams’ time for more critical work.

The tool also provides users with a deployment capability score, a unique metric to measure a team’s deployment performance and uncover potential for improvement. With over 500 integrations available, Octopus Deploy makes it easy to package your applications, configure your infrastructure, and create a consistent release and deployment process.

Spinnaker offers a flexible and robust open-source, multi-cloud continuous delivery platform. Spinnaker offers powerful pipeline management systems, providing automated releases that conduct system tests, manage server groups, and monitor roll outs. It works across multiple cloud providers including AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure, Kubernetes, Google Compute Engine, and others.

The platform implements best practices with built-in deployments such as the creation and deployment of immutable images for faster rollouts and easier rollbacks, reducing configuration drift issues. Spinnaker supports role-based access control and can integrate with internal authentication systems including OAuth, SAML, LDAP, and Google Groups, among others. It also provides Chaos Monkey integration for testing application resilience against instance failures.

Spinnaker categorizes services into applications, with each Spinnaker application corresponding to an individual service. It provides features for application management and application deployment. It offers sophisticated pipeline structures for managing deployments, including triggering pipelines via git events, Jenkins, or other Spinnaker pipelines. Various deployment strategies including blue/green and canary deployments are available. By using Spinnaker, businesses can standardize release processes, improve quality, and eliminate configuration drift issues.