Plug-ins

UrbanCode plug-ins provide tools for creating component processes and integrations. IBM UrbanCode provides plug-ins for several common deployment processes, and others are available to integrate with a wide variety of tools, such as middleware tools, databases, and servers.

Plug-ins provide processing and integration functions. There are two types of plug-ins:

  • Source-type plug-ins integrate with external systems to import artifacts and create component versions.
  • Automation-type plug-ins provide process steps that manipulate components, typically by deploying them.

Both types of plug-ins consist of distinct processes called steps. Each step consists of a number of properties, a command that runs the step, and post-processing instructions. (Post-processing typically ensures that expected results occur.) Step properties can serve various purposes, from providing input to the command to supplying some, or all, the actual command itself. Automation-type plug-in properties can be set at design time in the process editor, or at run time in the user interface. Source-type plug-in properties are typically defined when a component is created.

Automation-type plug-ins

You use automation plug-ins to deploy components or otherwise manage them. Each step is a self-contained unit with inputs, outputs, and properties. By combining automation plug-in steps in the process editor, you can create fully automated deployment processes. When you create a process, you drag steps onto the design area and define the properties as you go. Property values can be specified when you define the process or at run time. The process flow is defined by drawing connections between steps. The following illustration, shows a series of automation-type plug-in steps and the connections between them.

A simple component process that uses the WebSphere Application Server plug-in to deploy an application

For information about creating component processes, see Component processes.

At deployment time, component processes are run by agents that are installed in the target environment. For a process to run, the agent must have access to all resources, tools, and files that are required by the plug-in steps in the process. When you install an agent, ensure that these conditions are met:

  • The agent that runs the process has the necessary user permissions to run commands and can access required resources. Assigning these permissions typically entails granting permissions if an external tool is installed as a different user; installing the agent as a service; or impersonating the appropriate user. See User impersonation for process steps.
  • External tools that plug-in steps require are installed in the target environment.
  • The required minimum version of an external tool is installed.

For information about installing agents, see Installing agents from the command line.

Source-type plug-ins

You use source plug-ins to import artifacts and create component versions. A source plug-in defines the type of artifacts that can be imported and identifies where the artifacts are located. Source-type plug-ins are configured when components are created, you do not use the process editor to configure source-type plug-ins. Unlike automation plug-ins, source plug-ins always have a single step, the Import Version step.

Artifacts are imported into component versions by agents that are running in the environment where the artifacts are located. For a component version to be created, the agent must have the required permissions and access to all required resources and files. For information about installing agents that run source plug-ins, see Server settings.

Viewing and obtaining plug-ins

Plug-ins that are shipped with the product are called core plug-ins and plug-ins that can be downloaded and installed from the UrbanCode Plug-ins site are called external plug-ins.

View core plug-ins from the user interface as follows:

  • To view source config plug-ins, click Settings > Source Configuration Plugins. The following source configuration plug-ins are available:
    Plug-in Description
    AnthillPro Automates uploading version artifacts from AnthillPro.
    ClearCase Automates importing version artifacts from ClearCase (Base and UCM).
    File System Automates uploading artifacts from a normal file system.
    File System (Versioned) Automates uploading artifacts from a versioned file system.
    Git Automates importing artifacts from Git.
    Maven Automates downloading artifacts from Maven projects.
    Subversion Automates importing artifacts from a Subversion repository
    TeamCity Automates downloading artifacts from TeamCity projects.
    TFS Automates importing version artifacts from a TFS server.
    TFS_SCM Automates importing version artifacts from a TFS server.
    uBuild Automates uploading artifacts from a UrbanCode Build server.
    zOS File Automates uploading data sets, UNIX files and generic artifacts from a z/OS system.
    For information on how to use the source config plug-ins that are provided with HCL Launch, see Creating components.
  • To view automation plug-ins, click Settings > Automation Plugins. The following automation plug-ins are available:
    Plug-in Description
    File Utils Includes steps, such as deleting or creating directories and replacing tokens in a file, that perform folder-level and file-level tasks as part of a deployment process.
    General Utilities Provides utilities for basic tasks that don't fit in a specific plug-in.
    Groovy Provides steps for executing user defined Groovy scripts.
    Shell Allows users to run custom shell scripts during the deployment process.
    System Information Includes a variety of checks to perform against the operating system. These steps can be used to verify that a deployment can succeed or has succeeded.
    UrbanCode Deploy Applications Creates and manages UrbanCode Deploy applications.
    UrbanCode Deploy Components Creates and manages UrbanCode Deploy components.
    UrbanCode Deploy Configuration Management Downloads and uploads configuration templates from/to UrbanCode Deploy
    UrbanCode Deploy Environments Creates and manages UrbanCode Deploy environments.
    UrbanCode Deploy Processes Supports interaction with processes and process requests.
    UrbanCode Deploy Resources Manages UrbanCode Deploy resources.
    UrbanCode Deploy Versioned File Storage Allows UrbanCode Deploy to upload artifacts to CodeStation.
    UrbanCode Deploy Versions Allows editing Component Versions in UrbanCode Deploy.
    WinRS Agent Install Installs agents to remote machine using WinRS.
    zOS Utility Includes steps related to deployment activities for z/OS.

Plug-ins can be developed and updated more frequently than UrbanCode provided release cycles.

Browse, download, and get documentation for external plug-ins from the UrbanCode Plug-ins site. The site contains many more plug-ins than are packaged with the HCL Launch product.

The site includes plug-ins that are developed by these sources:

IBM® Corporation
Your HCL Launch license entitles you to download and install the plug-ins that are developed by IBM® Corporation.

Support is provided through the developerWorks® community and through IBM® technical support.

Partners
Plug-ins that are provided by partners can be purchased from the partner website.

Support for each partner plug-in is provided exclusively by the partner who provided the plug-in.

Community
Plug-ins are provided by members of the UrbanCode community on the IBM Development Community website. Search for urbancode or ucplugin to find plug-ins. You can contribute to code in the community or use code posted there to incorporate into your own.

Support is provided exclusively through the community.

For information about installing plug-ins, see Installing plug-ins.