Jenkins in DevSecOps Periodic Table

Source: Dev.to

Overview of the Tool

Jenkins is an open‑source automation server that helps developers build, test, and deploy applications automatically. It acts as a central hub where code changes are continuously integrated, tested, and prepared for release. By automating repetitive tasks, Jenkins reduces human error and accelerates the development lifecycle.

Key Features

• Continuous Integration & Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) automation
• Extensive plugin ecosystem (1800+ plugins)
• Easy integration with Git, Docker, Kubernetes, Maven, and more
• Pipeline‑as‑Code using Jenkinsfile
• Distributed builds using master‑agent architecture
• Security integrations for DevSecOps workflows

How It Fits into DevOps / DevSecOps

• DevOps: Jenkins automates the build and deployment process, ensuring faster feedback and continuous delivery.
• DevSecOps: Jenkins integrates security tools such as:
  • SAST (Static Application Security Testing)
  • DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)
  • Dependency scanning
  • Container image scanning

By embedding security checks directly into the CI/CD pipeline, Jenkins helps shift security left, making applications more secure from the early stages of development.

Programming Language

• Jenkins is primarily written in Java.
• Pipeline scripts are commonly written in Groovy, with support for shell scripts, Python, and other languages depending on project needs.

Parent Company

Jenkins was originally developed by Kohsuke Kawaguchi at Sun Microsystems.
Today, it is maintained by the Jenkins open‑source community under the Continuous Delivery Foundation (CDF), which is part of the Linux Foundation.

Open Source or Paid?

• ✅ Jenkins is completely open source and free to use.
• Enterprises can opt for paid support and managed services from third‑party vendors if required.

Conclusion

Jenkins remains a cornerstone of the DevSecOps ecosystem due to its flexibility, scalability, and strong community support. Whether you are automating builds, deployments, or security checks, Jenkins continues to be a powerful and reliable choice in modern software development pipelines.

I would like to sincerely thank my professor, @santhoshnc, for guiding and inspiring me to explore DevOps and DevSecOps tools like Jenkins and helping me grow my technical knowledge.