In this section, we will explore the Jenkins Dashboard, which is the central interface for managing Jenkins jobs, pipelines, and configurations. Understanding the dashboard is crucial for efficiently navigating and utilizing Jenkins.

1. Dashboard Layout:

   • Header: Contains the Jenkins logo, search bar, and user menu.
   • Side Panel: Provides quick access to common actions and views.
   • Main Panel: Displays job statuses, build history, and other relevant information.

2. Common Elements:

   • New Item: Button to create new jobs or pipelines.
   • People: View of users and their recent activities.
   • Build History: List of recent builds and their statuses.
   • Manage Jenkins: Access to administrative settings and configurations.

3. Job Status Indicators:

   • Blue/Green Ball: Successful build.
   • Red Ball: Failed build.
   • Yellow Ball: Unstable build.
   • Grey Ball: Not built yet.

The header is always visible and provides quick access to essential features:

• Jenkins Logo: Clicking this returns you to the main dashboard.
• Search Bar: Allows you to quickly find jobs, builds, and other items.
• User Menu: Access to user-specific settings, such as configuring your profile or logging out.

The side panel contains links to various sections and actions:

• New Item: Create a new job, pipeline, or other Jenkins item.
• People: View a list of users and their recent activities.
• Build History: Displays a chronological list of recent builds.
• Manage Jenkins: Access administrative settings, including plugin management, security settings, and system configurations.

The main panel is the core area where you will spend most of your time:

• Job List: Displays all jobs with their current status and last build result.
• Build Queue: Shows jobs that are waiting to be built.
• Build Executor Status: Displays the status of build executors (idle, building, etc.).

Understanding job status indicators is crucial for quickly assessing the health of your projects:

• Blue/Green Ball: Indicates a successful build.
• Red Ball: Indicates a failed build.
• Yellow Ball: Indicates an unstable build (some tests failed).
• Grey Ball: Indicates that the job has not been built yet.

Let's create a simple job and observe its status on the dashboard.

1. Create a New Job:

   • Click on the New Item link in the side panel.
   • Enter a name for your job (e.g., "Sample Job").
   • Select Freestyle project and click OK.

2. Configure the Job:

   • In the job configuration page, add a simple build step:

     echo "Hello, Jenkins!"
     

   • Click Save to save the job configuration.

3. Run the Job:

   • On the job's main page, click Build Now.
   • Observe the build progress in the Build History section.

4. Check Job Status:

   • After the build completes, check the job status indicator next to the job name on the dashboard.
   • You should see a blue/green ball indicating a successful build.

Here is a simple shell script that you can use in your job configuration:

This script will print "Hello, Jenkins!" to the console output when the job runs.

1. Create a new job named "Test Job".
2. Add a build step that prints "Testing Jenkins Dashboard".
3. Save the job and run it.
4. Check the job status on the dashboard.

Solution:

1. Click New Item and name it "Test Job".
2. Select Freestyle project and click OK.
3. In the configuration page, add a build step:

   echo "Testing Jenkins Dashboard"
   

4. Save the job and click Build Now.
5. Check the job status indicator on the dashboard.

1. Navigate to the People section and observe the list of users.
2. Check the Build History for recent builds.
3. Access the Manage Jenkins section and explore the available settings.

Solution:

1. Click on People in the side panel to view the list of users.
2. Click on Build History to see recent builds.
3. Click on Manage Jenkins to access administrative settings.

In this section, we covered the Jenkins Dashboard, including its layout, common elements, and job status indicators. We also walked through creating and running a simple job, and provided exercises to reinforce your understanding. Mastering the dashboard is essential for efficiently managing your Jenkins environment and monitoring the health of your projects.