Introduction

The personal build client is used to request a personal build on a pulse™ server. A personal build is a build of the latest project source code with the changes in your own working copy. The ability to execute personal builds allows you to test your changes before committing them to your SCM. This helps you to keep the checked in source code passing all tests at all times.

Personal Build Security Before you can request personal builds, you must be granted permission by the administrator of your pulse™ server. For more information, refer to the Groups page in the main pulse™ Manual.

How Personal Builds Work

Personal builds are executed by taking a snapshot of your current source code changes (from your working copy) and sending those changes to the pulse™ server. The server will apply the changes to its own checkout of the project source code, then execute a build and notify you of the results as normal. To efficiently and effectively check your changes against the latest project source code, the personal build client updates (or syncs in Perforce terminology) your working copy before taking the snapshot. The personal build workflow is roughly as follows:

• After making some changes, you decide you would like to test them before committing (submitting) them to your SCM.
• You run the personal build client in order to submit a personal build request to your pulse™ server. The client then:
  • Confirms your configuration with the pulse™ server.
  • Automatically updates (syncs) your working copy to reflect the latest code in the repository.
  • Analyses your changes, ensuring that the working copy is in a consistent state (i.e. there are no conflicting, damaged or missing files).
  • Collects the changes into a patch file.
  • Requests a personal build from the pulse™ server, uploading the patch file in the process.
  • Outputs the build number corresponding to the request.
• The pulse™ server runs the personal build, notifying you of the results how you choose.
• Based on the results of the build, you may decide to either commit (submit) your changes, or fix any issues that have been identified and repeat the cycle.

The results of personal builds are available in the pulse™ web interface, much like other builds. Unlike project builds, the results are only visible to the user that requested the build, via their own dashboard. You can also subscribe to notifications for your personal builds, much like you can subscribe to project build results.

Overview

The remainder of this document is divided into the following sections: