Creating an Azure CI/CD pipeline for a React web application

The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis was to examine temporary web hosting services in Azure and to find a suitable platform for future application development. The web hosting service was needed for the React web application demo named “Nummelan kylähistoria”, which needed to be deployed to operational state. During the project, the client organization was changed to Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Laurea UAS). Laurea organization wanted to know how the Azure platform and its microservices can be utilized with student development projects that need a web hosting service. The integration of the demo application to Azure was treated as a case study. The client was represented by the lecturer, Arvind Sharma. The original commission for this project came from the non-profit association Vihdin-Nummelan kylähistoria Ry, who needed a new web application solution for their pre-existing website. Laurea UAS and its students had previously worked on the demo application in collaboration with the association. The demo application needed to be deployed so that the old website content could be transferred to the demo application. The author was assigned to study the related technologies and deployment options in Azure. Microsoft Azure is a cloud service provider that is used by Laurea UAS. The knowledge base for this thesis includes Azure, Azure Web App Service, Azure DevOps, and various integrated automation and agile tools. DevOps and Agile concepts were studied to understand the background and features of Azure services. React, WordPress, and Headless CMS were the main technologies used in the demo application, so these technologies were examined as well. Together, these services and ideas comprised the thesis’ subject: creating a continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline for the React web application. The framework for the project was the systems development life cycle (SDLC) because Azure is a comprehensive cloud service system that includes multiple dedicated microservices. An experimental approach was used to combine different new technologies together as one cohesive cloud operation. The development tasks included the integration of the demo to Azure and to its microservices, Azure DevOps and Azure App Service. The application was integrated successfully to Azure DevOps and deployed using the Azure Web App Service. The automated processes in the build and release pipelines improved the application operations and the future development platform was established. Smaller development tasks were also conducted in the thesis work. The development of the React web application was tentatively suspended. The association and project supervisors from Laurea decided to plan a new system architecture for the association’s software. The new system must be able to support the technical requirements set by the association. The thesis work provided practical information about the platform and its automated software delivery processes