Blueprints assist users with creating FlexDeploy projects and the associated configuration, accelerating the journey to the ultimate goal - building and deploying software! A blueprint has the understanding of the end goal, and gathers the information necessary to auto-generate the underlying componentry.

Whether you use a blueprint or create objects by hand the componentry is the same. The underlying components consist of a Topology definition, build and deploy workflows, a source code repository connection, and a project definition. Blueprints provide a jump start to get something working quickly, and letting you come back later to enrich and extend. In that spirit, blueprints default many properties and configure a single deployment target - Development.

You can utilize Blueprints by accessing the create new project screen in FlexDeploy. To create a project, complete the 5 simple steps in the wizard.

Step 1 - Select a Blueprint

Enter the Project Information and select the Build and Deploy options if applicable.

Step 2 - Where is your source code?

Below the Project Information section, select the Source Control Management System for the project.

Using Git

Checkout Tips and Tricks for deeper Git Integration

In the Source Repository dropdown, if you have already created a connection to your source code repository, select it.

To make a new repository connection, select + Create new Source Repository in the dropdown.

In the Create Source Control Repository popup, select desired Source Control Type and fill in all required properties to make a connect to your repository.

Validate Connection

When creating a new repository connection, click the TEST CONNECTION button to ensure FlexDeploy can connect to your repository using the supplied properties.

Step 3 - Gather Build information

This step will collect any environment specific build properties and identify which endpoint to execute on.

Enter values for any workflow properties which are required for the build. In the image above, one property is required for this build.

For some Blueprints, specific endpoints will be required, showing theicon next to it. Otherwise, select the desired endpoint that this build should execute on from the drop down, or create a new one within the dropdown.

Validate Connection

When creating a new endpoint, click the TEST CONNECTION button to ensure FlexDeploy can connect to your endpoint using the supplied parameters.

Step 4 - Gather Deployment Information

This step will collect any environment specific deployment properties and identify which endpoint to execute on.

Development Environment Only

Keep in mind that the focus of the Blueprint is to get something working quickly. With that in mind, the blueprint collects information for the Development environment only. You can map and configure as many environments as you wish later.

Enter values for any workflow properties which are required for deployment into the Development environment. In the image above, several properties are required for this deployment.

Similar to build, specific endpoints may be required, showing theicon next to it. Otherwise, select the desired endpoint that this deploy should execute on from the drop down, or create a new one within the dropdown.

Step 5 - Final Review

The final step is to review the information and generate the project and supporting components. Once ready, select the CONFIRM button at the bottom of the page to create the project. On creation, you will be redirected to the project's page.

Summary

The Blueprint creates the Topology configuration, the build and deploy workflows, the source code repository connection, the project, and the linkages between them.