Episode 34: DevOps for Fiori on-premise with BTP CI/CD service

Summary

In this video, the focus is on CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) services for on-premise SAP deployments, rather than for BTP. The speaker highlights how CI/CD can streamline development processes by ensuring that code in a Git repository remains in sync with SAP systems. The use of webhooks triggers automatic deployments, with a technical user handling the deployment process, ensuring consistency between the Git repository and SAP systems. This approach helps prevent coding conflicts, ensuring that developers work with the latest version of the code base.

Takeaways

• 😀 CI/CD can be useful even for on-premise deployments, not just BTP deployments.
• 😀 Many companies still deploy to on-premise systems like SAP Fiori, ECC, or gateway systems.
• 😀 Without CI/CD, developers may deploy directly to the system without committing code to GitHub, leading to conflicts.
• 😀 It's essential to keep the Git repository and the SAP system in sync to avoid version conflicts.
• 😀 If code is only in the system and not in the Git repository, it can lead to difficulties in managing and tracking changes.
• 😀 The code base in the system should not be used for development purposes directly; it should be in Git.
• 😀 CI/CD can help synchronize code between Git repositories and SAP systems automatically.
• 😀 By using a webhook, CI/CD can trigger deployments to SAP systems when updates are made to the Git repository.
• 😀 The deployment process should be automated through CI/CD pipelines to ensure consistency and avoid human error.
• 😀 It’s recommended to have a dedicated technical user for deployment to enforce consistency in the CI/CD process.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this episode?

The main focus of this episode is on CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) services for Fiori development, specifically for on-premise deployments, rather than BTP (Business Technology Platform) deployments.

What was the focus of the previous episode mentioned in the transcript?

The previous episode focused on transport management services, with an emphasis on deploying applications to BTP.

What kind of systems are still commonly used for deployment today?

Many companies are still deploying applications to on-premise systems, including SAP S/4HANA, ECC (Enterprise Central Component) systems, or gateway systems.

How can CI/CD help with on-premise deployments?

CI/CD can help ensure that the code in the GitHub repository and the SAP system are aligned. It acts as a bridge to automate deployment processes, making sure that both repositories are in sync.

What issue is often encountered with developers and GitHub?

A common issue is that developers may either deploy the latest version directly to the system without committing it to GitHub, or they may commit to Git without deploying it. This leads to conflicts and misalignment between the GitHub repository and the system.

Why is it important to keep the Git repository and the system in sync?

It is crucial to maintain synchronization because when the code in Git and the system are not aligned, it can lead to inconsistencies, conflicts, and difficulties in development, making it harder to track the actual source code.

What is the role of CI/CD in addressing this issue?

CI/CD ensures that the deployment process is automated and that the code in GitHub is always aligned with the code in the SAP system. By using CI/CD pipelines, developers can avoid conflicts and ensure that the latest code is always deployed properly.

How does the CI/CD process work in relation to GitHub and SAP systems?

The CI/CD pipeline connects the GitHub repository to the SAP system using a webhook. When changes are made in Git, the webhook triggers the CI/CD process, which then automatically deploys the code to the SAP system.

What role does the technical user play in the CI/CD pipeline?

The technical user is responsible for executing the deployment within the CI/CD pipeline. It's important that this technical user is the only one authorized to deploy, ensuring a secure and controlled deployment process.

How can CI/CD enforce proper deployment behavior among developers?

CI/CD enforces proper deployment behavior by making sure all developers deploy code through the CI/CD pipeline. This helps prevent direct deployments to the SAP system and ensures that the Git repository and the SAP system remain synchronized.