Unified Pipeline Execution for Context-Aware Application Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The distinction between workflows and pipelines in modern application development, testing, and deployment is often unclear, leading to confusion about which automation tool to use for specific tasks, and existing systems lack a unified model for coordinating pipeline executions with differing execution contexts.
Innovation Solution
A unified pipeline execution model is introduced, where pipeline specifications include actions, triggering events, and execution contexts, allowing for independent execution of pipelines with different contexts while coordinating those with shared contexts, defined using templates and user interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate workflows and pipelines are used for CI and CD tasks, then specific automation capabilities can be provided, but confusion arises about which tool to use for specific tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate workflow and pipeline concepts into a unified pipeline execution model. The automation executive now handles both CI and CD tasks through a single pipeline specification framework, eliminating the confusion of choosing between workflows and pipelines while maintaining the distinct automation capabilities for different task types.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified pipeline execution model creates a universal pipeline specification that can handle multiple types of automation tasks (both CI and CD) through a single framework. The pipeline specification includes executable code that can perform diverse actions, making the system multi-functional rather than requiring separate specialized tools.
2Productivity
If workflows proceed independently while pipelines require coordination, then appropriate automation patterns can be applied, but the distinction creates complexity in determining proper usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the independent execution model of workflows with the coordinated execution model of pipelines into a single unified pipeline execution model. The automation executive determines the appropriate execution pattern (independent or coordinated) based on the pipeline specification and execution context, eliminating the need to choose between different system models.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified model introduces dynamic behavior where the execution pattern (independent or coordinated) is determined at runtime based on the execution context and pipeline specification, rather than being fixed by the system architecture. This allows the system to adapt its behavior dynamically while maintaining a single underlying model.
3Reliability
If resources constrain multiple CI tasks to operate sequentially, then resource conflicts are avoided, but automation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified pipeline execution model enables dynamic resource allocation and task scheduling based on execution context. The automation executive can determine whether tasks should execute independently (potentially in parallel) or be coordinated sequentially, allowing the system to optimize for speed when resources permit while maintaining reliable resource management when constraints exist.
Data Source
AI summary
Unified automation of application development and delivery is provided. An automation pipeline execution coordinator may define a pipeline specification that includes actions to be performed, a triggering event definition and specification for determining execution context. The coordinator may concurrently detect triggering events for multiple pipelines matching the pipeline specification, and responsive to the detecting, determine execution contexts for the pipelines. The coordinator may then execute the multiple pipelines, where execution may proceed independently for pipelines with differing execution contexts. For pipelines sharing an execution context, execution of various actions of the respective pipelines may be coordinated. Execution context may be determined according to the specification for determining execution context, which may include an overridable default specification that determines context by locations of source data related to the triggering event. Pipeline specifications may be defined using pipeline specification templates and input from users obtained via various user interfaces.