Canary & Shadow Pipelines
1. Introduction
Canary and shadow pipelines are essential strategies in Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) that enhance the deployment process by reducing risks and ensuring stability in production environments.
2. Canary Pipelines
2.1 Definition
A canary pipeline is a deployment strategy that releases a new version of an application to a small subset of users before rolling it out to the entire user base.
2.2 Key Steps in Implementing Canary Pipelines
- Prepare the application for deployment.
- Deploy the new version to a small segment of users.
- Monitor performance and user feedback.
- If successful, gradually increase the user base until the full rollout is complete.
2.3 Code Example
aws deploy create-deployment \
--application-name MyApp \
--deployment-group-name MyCanaryGroup \
--s3-location bucket=my-bucket,key=my-app.zip,bundleType=zip \
--file-exists-behavior OVERWRITE3. Shadow Pipelines
3.1 Definition
A shadow pipeline involves running a new version of an application alongside the current version without impacting users, allowing for performance comparisons.
3.2 Key Steps in Implementing Shadow Pipelines
- Deploy the new version alongside the existing version.
- Route a copy of the production traffic to the new version.
- Collect performance metrics and compare with the existing version.
- Decide based on the data whether to fully deploy the new version.
3.3 Code Example
aws deploy create-deployment \
--application-name MyApp \
--deployment-group-name MyShadowGroup \
--s3-location bucket=my-bucket,key=my-shadow-app.zip,bundleType=zip \
--file-exists-behavior OVERWRITE4. Best Practices
- Use automated monitoring tools to gather data during deployments.
- Implement rollback mechanisms to revert to previous versions quickly.
- Conduct thorough testing on new versions before canary or shadow deployments.
- Document the deployment processes and outcomes for future reference.
5. FAQ
What is the main advantage of using canary and shadow pipelines?
They allow for safer deployments by minimizing risks and enabling real-time feedback on new features.
Can I combine canary and shadow deployments?
Yes, combining both can provide comprehensive insights by testing under real traffic conditions while still controlling the rollout.
Is it necessary to have a rollback plan?
Absolutely. A rollback plan is crucial in case the new version negatively impacts performance or user experience.