Jeff Vincent

Orka Integrations: Mac and iOS CI with the Orka-Jenkins Plugin
Jenkins is the most popular open-source CI/CD tool available - and we’ve got a plugin for it! Take a look at our step-by-step guide to getting the MacStadium Jenkins plugin for Orka up and running.

Automating Jenkins Deployments in K8s with Docker and Groovy - Part II
In part 2, learn to incorporate an additional Groovy Init Hook script that will install and configure the Orka plugin for Jenkins.

Server-Side Swift Now Runs on Mac, Linux, and Windows
Mac, Linux, or Windows? Swift can run in all three places, so which are you picking? Our rundown can give you some guidance when you’re looking to run Swift!

Why Use GitHub Actions with MacStadium Hardware?
GitHub Actions, first released in 2019, is a free CI/CD system baked into GitHub. Grab your GitHub repo and see what you can do with GitHub Actions and your MacStadium hardware.

Jenkins Deployments in Kubernetes with Docker and Groovy
In our latest installment of the How to K8s series, we explore the concepts you’ll need to execute tasks via a look at dockerizing a Jenkins server so that it can create a user automatically upon startup in a container.

Automating macOS Server Configuration with Ansible
Ansible is a lightweight configuration solution that requires only two things of the target servers it configures. We’re walking through Jeff Geerling’s Ansible playbook on the blog to show you how Ansible can benefit you.

Say "Hello" to iOS App Clips
iOS 14 has a brand new feature called App Clips. Get ready to explore this new, mini-versions of iOS apps as we explore what you can expect from these cool new tools.

Automation 101: Introduction to Ansible
If you’re looking to get started with Ansible, you’ve come to the right place! We’re diving into automation with Ansible for the introductory blog post.

How to K8s: Kubernetes Secrets from the Command Line
Last time, we dove into the ins and outs of Kubernetes Secrets, but in the latest How to K8s, we’ll cover creating a Secret via kubectl CLI.

iOS Developer Survey Pt. 3 - Your Projects
In this last installment of Dave Verwer’s iOS Developer Community Survey, we’re turning our analytical eye to what iOS developers are working on both personally and professionally.

How to K8s: Kubernetes Secrets Made Simple
What is a Kubernetes Secret and can you make sure that all your secrets are being kept? In this blog, we give you an overview of what Kubernetes Secrets are and how to make them.

How to K8s: Pods, ReplicaSets, and Deployments
Pods, ReplicaSets, and Deployments are definitely something new and returning users will need to have in their K8s playbook. Let us guide you on the K8s journey with our latest installment.

Accessing Your Mac mini From Anywhere
VNC, SSH, or VPN, you can interact with a Mac mini remotely in several different ways. In this how-to, we walk you through different ways you can access your Mac mini - including our recommendations.

iOS Developer Survey Pt. 2 - Languages, Tools & Processes
We’re back with Part 2 of our analysis of Dave Verwer’s iOS Developer Community Survey. In this installment, we talk tools - from Swift to Objective-C and from Jenkins to Bazel, here’s what developers are using.

How to K8s: Persistent Volumes and Claims
In order to retain data beyond the life-cycle of a given Pod in Kubernetes, you’ll have to use a persistent volume. In this walkthrough, we’ll take you through the complexities of persistent volumes and claims.

How to K8s: Pull, Edit, and Push a Docker Image
Set sail with K8s with part four in the How to K8s series! Let us take you through how to pull, edit, and push a Docker image.

How to K8s: Sharing Data Between Containers in a Pod
In part three of our How to K8s series, we take you through emptyDir and volume, and how to share data between containers in a pod.

Intro to Chef: Configuration and Automation Tool for Mac VMs
Jump into part one of our Chef series, where we introduce some concepts and ideas for beginners and discuss the latest update to the Chef training materials.

Open Source iOS Testing Platforms to Consider When Testing Your Next App
There are a lot of players in the iOS testing landscape. We’ve picked four open source platforms for your consideration.

How to K8s: Expose a Public IP via a Load Balancer Service in Kubernetes
In the second installment of How to K8s, we explore how to use a Kubernetes load balance service to expose a single IP.

How to K8s: Exec into a Running Kubernetes Pod
When working with Kubernetes environments, you may find it useful to access a pod directly. You can do that by calling kubectl exec to get direct command line access.

Ephemeral vs Static Build Agents for iOS CI
Dive into the costs and benefits when choosing between ephemeral and static build agents. Learn the key differences and why you may want to choose one method over the other.

Getting Started with Docker & Kubernetes on Mac
MacStadium's Orka brings modern, orchestration and containerization solutions Kubernetes and Docker to Mac-specific CI. Now, teams that focus on dev for iOS and macOS have access to this powerful tech.

Orka Overview Part 2: Deploying Mac Virtual Machines
Manipulating virtual machines has become a core skill for DevOps engineers. Orka allows for automated management of macOS VMs with simple commands.

2 New Xcode 11.4 Features for Swift that We Love
Xcode’s latest release, 11.4 Beta 3, has brought advancements across the board. Here’s our rundown of the two new features we love and think could benefit you the most.

Making the Most of Your Orka Demo
The Orka demo gives you two hours of playtime to experience the power of Orka. Here's how to get the most out of your demo environment.

5 Key Features in Orka's CLI for iOS and macOS Virtualization
It’s always a treat when you can do more with less code. And Orka’s CLI fits this bill. Orka is a powerful macOS virtualization tool that performs complex tasks with short, simple commands.

Orka Plugins Rundown: Part 2
These three plugins are the most recent additions to Orka, and have all been greeted warmly by folks who are using them already. Check out how Orka integrates with your CI pipeline (part 2).

Orka Plugins Rundown: Part 1
With Orka’s simple CLI and our growing library of plugins and integrations, ease-of-use is central to our targeted user experience. In short, Orka is a tool for everyone.

How to Connect Storage for Ephemeral Build Testing
Leveraging ephemeral builds as part of your CI pipeline greatly improves consistency, scalability, and ease of updating. In this post, learn how to connect your build server to shared storage.

YAML for the People: A Human Readable Primer
If you haven’t yet heard much about YAML, it – very much like JSON or XML – is just a way of representing structured data. Learn more in this beginner's guide.

Automate Your CI With These 3 Powerful Tools in 2020
Is CI automation on your team's wishlist for 2020? Check out this piece for three must-have tools before getting started.

Put Your Things Away with MacStadium’s Five Storage Options
With one or more of our five storage solutions your team will be ready and able to focus on the work at hand. We break them down in this piece.

Native vs. React Native for iOS: A Smorgasbord for Thought
A collection of our favorite resources based on specific use cases to help you make a well informed choice as to which route to take in the creation of your next application.

Selecting a Scalable CI Pipeline for macOS
Your company is growing and there are many factors contributing to the need for a more efficient CI infrastructure. Learn how MacStadium can aid in the transition to an infrastructure that can support a product at scale.

Top 5 Signs It's Time to Upgrade Your Mac CI Build Infrastructure
Is your homegrown Mac mini build farm keeping pace with your organizational growth? If you're not sure, the MacStadium team has put together the top five signs it's time to make a change for the better.

Check Out Our New Site-to-Site Networking Docs
We have recently expanded our Mac private cloud Site-to-Site Networking documentation to include specific setup instructions.

MacStadium + Ansible are Making Life Easier for DevOps Teams
Provisioning your Mac cloud virtual machines for macOS and iOS CI just got easier. MacStadium engineers have put together some example Ansible scripts for provisioning your CI build environment.