Ansible vs Jenkins: Core Differences

Ansible and Jenkins are the two widely used tools in DevOps that help in automating different parts of the software process. Ansible is mainly used for server management and application deployment, while Jenkins mainly focuses on building and testing the code automatically. Both tools make the process of development faster, reduce manual work, and improve efficiency. In this blog, you will understand what Ansible and Jenkins are, and the difference between Ansible and Jenkins in detail.

Table of Contents:

• What is Ansible?
• What is Jenkins?
• Ansible vs Jenkins
• How to use Ansible in Jenkins?
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Ansible
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Jenkins
• Ansible vs Jenkins: Which One to Prefer?
• Conclusion

What is Ansible?

Ansible is a DevOps automation tool that is used for managing many servers at once. It helps to deploy applications, run the commands, install software, and configure the system without logging into each machine manually. It works using simple script files called the playbooks that are written in YAML, which are very simple and easy to read and edit. This type of automation helps in saving time by removing manual steps and ensures that all systems are set up in the same way.

What is Jenkins?

Jenkins is an automation tool used for building, testing, and releasing software automatically. It is mostly known for CI/CD, where it runs all the tasks like compiling the code by running all the test cases. This involves deploying applications in steps without human involvement every time. Jenkins supports tools like Gradle, Docker, and Kubernetes. This helps the teams to automate builds, create container images, and deploy applications across multiple servers smoothly. This approach helps in detecting early bugs and makes the software delivery process faster and more efficient.

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Ansible vs Jenkins

Now, let’s understand the difference between Ansible and Jenkins in detail

How to use Ansible in Jenkins?

Jenkins and Ansible can work together to handle the builds and deployment in a single process. Jenkins packs the code into a WAR file after tests. Then Jenkins asks Ansible to deploy the file to the Tomcat server without any manual copy-paste. Let’s understand in detail with steps.

Step 1: In Jenkins, click on New Item, name the job, select Freestyle Project, then open the Source Code Management section. Select Git, paste your GitHub link, and save.

Step 2: Go to the Build section and set the Gradle command. Use the clean package so that Jenkins can build the project and create the WAR file.

Step 3: Open the Jenkins workspace directory on your system. Inside it, create a new folder and name it roles. This folder will hold your Ansible role files.

Step 4: Open the roles folder in the Jenkins workspace. Run ansible-galaxy init tomcat to create the Tomcat role files and folders that Ansible needs.

Step 5: In the Jenkins workspace, create the file named site.yml. Inside this file, add the Tomcat role so that Ansible knows it has to run that role only after the build.

Step 6: In Jenkins, open the job settings. Go to the Post-Build actions and add the Invoke Ansible plugin. Choose the site.yml file and select the tomcat role. Then save the settings.

Step 7: Make sure that Tomcat is running on the target server. Now run the Jenkins job. Ansible will deploy the WAR file to Tomcat automatically.

Step 8: Open the Tomcat application URL in a browser. If the deployment worked, then the app will load and run like normal. If not, you may see errors or a blank page.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ansible

Ansible has both benefits and limitations. Let’s now explore them in detail.

Advantages

1. Fast automation: Helps run complex IT tasks and workflows much faster without doing them by hand.
2. Open source: Free to use and open for changes because it is an open-source tool.
3. No agent needed: Target servers don’t need extra software installed. It works directly over SSH.
4. Simple approach: No need to build separate management setups or new control systems.
5. Easy language: Uses YAML, a clean and English-based syntax that is easy to read, write, and edit.

Disadvantages

1. Poor UI: The interface is basic and not very user-friendly for new users.
2. No state tracking: Does not remember previous steps, so handling state can feel hard.
3. Market newer: Still growing in adoption and is newer compared to older CI/CD tools.
4. Less Windows support: Works best on Linux. Windows support is not fully smooth or complete.
5. Smaller ecosystem: Has fewer plugins and end-to-end pipeline features compared to Jenkins.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Jenkins

Jenkins has both benefits and limitations. Let’s now explore them in detail.

Advantages

1. Free and Open Source: Jenkins is completely free to use and modify.
2. Strong Community: A Big user community means help, guides, and fixes are easy to find.
3. Plugin Ecosystem: Plugins connect Jenkins with Gradle, Docker, Kubernetes, and many more tools.
4. Distributed Builds: Can run builds on multiple machines at the same time, saving hours of work.
5. Simple Job Tracking: Logs, job failures, and job outputs are very easy to check from the dashboard.

Disadvantages

1. Plugin Dependent: Many core features need plugins, even basic ones.
2. Outdated UI feel: The Interface can feel old compared to modern UI designs.
3. Plugin Update Delay: Some plugins don’t get updates often, causing compatibility issues.
4. Pipeline Compatibility: Not all plugins fully support declarative pipelines.
5. Dashboard Mess: Too many running jobs can make the dashboard look congested and confusing.

Ansible vs Jenkins: Which One to Prefer?

Ansible and Jenkins are the two key DevOps tools, but they help to handle different tasks. Ansible is preferred for managing multiple servers, keeping the configurations consistent, and deploying the applications without the need for any manual login. Jenkins is preferred for building code, running tests, and automating software release using plugins.

1. Scalability: Prefer Ansible when you are handling a large server setup that needs steady configuration and deployment.
2. CI/CD Needs: Prefer Jenkins when you are automating the builds, testing the code, and running the full release pipelines.
3. Server Access: Prefer Ansible when you want to run the tasks on servers without the need for installing any agent, using SSH for connecting and executing.
4. Tool Integration: Prefer Jenkins if you are dependent on plugins for tools like Gradle, Docker, and Kubernetes.
5. Tool Connection: Prefer Jenkins if your project uses GitLab or GitHub. The Jenkins plugins allow GitLab to trigger the builds and manage the deployment steps with minimal manual effort.

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Conclusion

Jenkins and Ansible are built for different stages of automation, but both are capable of handling real team workflows when properly used for the purpose they are designed for. Ansible is best for managing server settings and large deployments. While Jenkins is best for automating the builds, testing, and CI/CD because its plugin system supports many pipelines and deployment workflows. The right choice depends on your system size, release flow, and the type of task you want to automate.

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