How to setup CI/CD for nativescript using Visual studio online/Azure dev ops tools - nativescript

Question

Im try so setup a CI/CD Pipeline for a Nativescript app, added the commands to install node and npm install but nativescript has dependencies that it need. How do I go about on Azure dev ops dynamically without having to create a vm that has nativescript and all its dependencies installed and setup
So i have used a VM and install nativescript on it and used and agent to connect to the machine and build solution, i have done the same using jenkins but jenkins was running on the vm, no i want to move the whole pipeline on azure dev ops
command used in build step: tns build android

Answer 1

If you don't want to use a vm you'll have to install everything needed for nativescript before building it on their hosted agent each time you create a build for your app.
A couple of important things to note. First the name of your repository is changed to 's' this messes with the naming of your entitlement file... or at least it did for me. I fix this with a bash file I add to my repository that changes the name of the path in build.xcconfig for the CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS variable. I added an npm run entitle command in my package.json file to run this before building. Second you'll want to store all files and secure passwords in the library section under pipelines in you Azure Devops project. Third, Using the classic editor is your best friend for figuring out yaml as most jobs have an option to view the YAML. You can also use the classic editor as an alternative to the YAML file
The YAML and bash file below show an example of how you can build an ipa and apk file that is stored as an artifact. You can then use that trigger a release pipeline to push the the play and app store.
# YAML File
name: Release Build
trigger:
- release/* # will start build for pull request into release branch ie. realease/version_1_0_0, release/version_2_0_0
pool:
vmImage: 'macOS-10.13'
variables:
scheme: 's' # default name/scheme created on this machine for ipa
sdk: 'iphoneos'
configuration: 'Release'
steps:
- task: NodeTool#0
inputs:
versionSpec: '10.14'
displayName: 'Install Node.js'
# Download Secure File for Android
# Note: if multiple secure files are downloaded... variable name will change and break pipeline
- task: DownloadSecureFile#1
displayName: 'download android keystore file'
inputs:
secureFile: myKeystore.keystore
#Install Apple Certificate(Distrobution)
- task: InstallAppleCertificate#2
displayName: 'Install an Apple certificate Distribution (yourcertificate.p12)'
inputs:
certSecureFile: '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000' # got id from viewing file in clasic editor for pipeline
certPwd: '$(myCertificatePasswordP12)' # password stored in Library
# Install Apple Provisioning Profile(Distrobution)
- task: InstallAppleProvisioningProfile#1
displayName: 'Apple Provisioning Profile(myProvisioningProfile.mobileprovision)'
inputs:
provisioningProfileLocation: 'secureFiles' # Options: secureFiles, sourceRepository
provProfileSecureFile: '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000' # Required when provisioningProfileLocation == SecureFiles
# General Set Up
- script: |
npm install -g nativescript#latest
npm install
displayName: 'Install native script and node Modules'
# variable explination
# $DOWNLOADSECUREFILE_SECUREFILEPATH is keystore file downloaded earlier
# $KEYSTORE_PASSWORD refers to the environment variable in this script which references library variable
# $(MyPlayStoreAlias) refers to library variable for your apps alias
# $BUILD_SOURCESDIRECTORY location where apk is built to
# Android
- script: |
tns build android --env.production --release --key-store-path $DOWNLOADSECUREFILE_SECUREFILEPATH --key-store-password $KEYSTORE_PASSWORD --key-store-alias $(MyPlayStoreAlias) --key-store-alias-password $KEYSTORE_PASSWORD --bundle --copy-to $BUILD_SOURCESDIRECTORY #creates apk
displayName: 'Build Android Release apk'
env:
KEYSTORE_PASSWORD: $(MyPlayStoreKeystore)
# create apk artifact
- task: PublishBuildArtifacts#1
inputs:
pathtoPublish: '$(Build.SourcesDirectory)/app-release.apk'
artifactName: 'apkDrop'
displayName: 'Publishing apkDrop artifact'
# have to use xcode 10.1 to meet min standards for uploading ipa... default version for this machine was lower than 10.1
#changing xcode version
- script: |
xcodebuild -version
/bin/bash -c "echo '##vso[task.setvariable variable=MD_APPLE_SDK_ROOT;]'/Applications/Xcode_10.1.app;sudo xcode-select --switch /Applications/Xcode_10.1.app/Contents/Developer"
xcodebuild -version
displayName: 'changing xcode to 10.1'
# Optional... was running into build issues with latest version
#downgrading cocoapods version
- script: |
sudo gem uninstall cocoapods
sudo gem install cocoapods -v 1.5.3
displayName: 'Using cocoapods version 1.5.3'
#iOS
- script: |
xcodebuild -version # makeing sure the correct xcode version is being used
pip install --ignore-installed six # fixes pip 6 error
npm run entitle #custom bash script used to change entitlement file
tns run ios --provision #see what provisioning profile and certificate are installed... helpful for debugging
tns build ios --env.production --release --bundle #creates xcworkspace
displayName: 'Build ios Release xcworkspace'
#build and sign ipa
- task: Xcode#5
displayName: 'Xcode sign and build'
inputs:
sdk: '$(sdk)' # custom var
scheme: '$(scheme)' # must be provided if setting manual path to xcworkspace
configuration: '$(configuration)' # custom var
xcodeVersion: 'specifyPath'
xcodeDeveloperDir: '/Applications/Xcode_10.1.app' #using xcode 10.1
xcWorkspacePath: 'platforms/ios/s.xcworkspace'
exportPath: '$(agent.buildDirectory)/output/$(sdk)/$(configuration)' #location where ipa file will be stored
packageApp: true #create ipa
signingOption: manual
signingIdentity: '$(APPLE_CERTIFICATE_SIGNING_IDENTITY)' # distribution certificate
provisioningProfileUuid: '$(APPLE_PROV_PROFILE_UUID)' # distribution profile
#creating ipa artifact
- task: PublishBuildArtifacts#1
displayName: 'Publishing ipaDrop artifact'
inputs:
pathtoPublish: '$(agent.buildDirectory)/output/$(sdk)/$(configuration)/s.ipa'
artifactName: 'ipaDrop'
Bash file
#!/usr/bin/env bash
# filename: pipeline-entitlements.sh
echo "Editing build.xcconfig"
TARGET_KEY="CODE_SIGN_ENTITLEMENTS"
REPLACEMENT_VALUE="s\/Resources\/YOURENTITLEMENTFILENAME.entitlements"
CONFIG_FILE="./app/App_Resources/iOS/build.xcconfig"
echo "Editing $TARGET_KEY and replaceing value with $REPLACEMENT_VALUE"
sed -i.bak "s/\($TARGET_KEY *= *\).*/\1$REPLACEMENT_VALUE/" $CONFIG_FILE
echo "Finished editing build.xcconfig"