Guide: Understanding and Answering Questions on Pipeline as Code

What is Pipeline as Code?
'Pipeline as Code' is a practice where the deployment pipeline is expressed as code — versioned and checked into the code repository. This enables automated configuration, reduces errors, and enhances consistency and repeatability.
Why is it Important?
This practice is crucial because it allows the team to treat the pipeline like application code. It can undergo code review and regression testing, making it less likely for the deployment process to break than in a manually configured process. It also promotes transparency and collaboration among teams.
How does it work?
With Pipeline as Code, pipeline definitions are written in scripting or declarative languages in a file, typically named 'Jenkinsfile' or 'pipeline.yml'. The pipeline configurations are then versioned and managed in a source code control repository. This pipeline configuration file instructs the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) tools to automatically build, test, and deploy applications based on specified criteria.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Pipeline as Code

• Understand the concept: Review the definition of Pipeline as Code thoroughly including its purpose and how it works in Continuous Integration/Delivery context.
• Real-world application: Be able to explain how it benefits the software development process, largely because of its automatic, reproducible configurations and potential for decreased error rates.
• Specifics in operation: Understand the typical file names such as Jenkinsfile or pipeline.yml. Familiarize with scripting or declarative languages used to write pipeline definitions.
• Interpretation and Comparison: Be able to compare with a manually-configured pipeline process and its drawbacks.