Learn CIRCLECI-CONFIG with Real Code Examples

CircleCI uses YAML-based configuration files (`.circleci/config.yml`) to define pipelines.

Supports multiple workflows, jobs, and steps for parallel and sequential execution.

Integrates with VCS platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.

Enables caching, artifact storage, and Docker-based job execution.

Facilitates automated deployment to cloud and on-prem environments.

Jobs - define a unit of work

Workflows - define execution order of jobs

Steps - commands within jobs

Orbs - reusable packages of jobs, commands, and executors

Executors - environments for running jobs (Docker, machine, MacOS)

Job - unit of work executed in an executor

Workflow - sequence or parallelization of jobs

Step - command or action inside a job

Executor - environment for job execution

Orb - reusable set of jobs, commands, and executors

.circleci/ directory for configuration

config.yml - main pipeline definition

Scripts/ - optional scripts used in steps

Environment variable configuration

README.md documenting pipeline usage

Define jobs in `.circleci/config.yml`

Specify steps within each job

Set up workflows to order jobs

Use Orbs for reusable functionality

Commit and push to VCS to trigger pipeline

Beginner: Single job for building a project

Intermediate: Multiple jobs with sequential workflow

Advanced: Parallel and matrix builds with caching

Expert: Multi-repo, multi-environment pipelines

Architect: Enterprise CI/CD automation with Orbs and deployment pipelines

CircleCI vs Jenkins -> Cloud-native vs self-hosted flexibility

CircleCI vs GitHub Actions -> Config-driven vs VCS-native CI

CircleCI vs Travis CI -> Parallelism and caching advantages

CircleCI vs GitLab CI -> Cloud-focused vs integrated DevOps platform

CircleCI vs Bitbucket Pipelines -> Feature richness vs Bitbucket-native integration

2011 - CircleCI founded

2012 - Public beta launched

2015 - CircleCI 2.0 with workflow support

2017 - Docker-based job execution

2020 - CircleCI Orbs introduced

2023 - Latest platform enhancements for multi-cloud pipelines

Job - a unit of work executed in an executor

Step - a command within a job

Workflow - ordering of jobs and dependencies

Executor - environment for job execution

Orb - reusable package of jobs, commands, and executors