A repository in Continua CI is a reference to an external Version Control System (VCS) that provides a way for Continua CI to interact with that VCS. Once a repository has linked a VCS to a configuration, all builds created by that configuration can then access the VCS and use it's files within the build process. Before a build is executed, Continua will check your VCS for any new changes, get the latest version and distribute the latest version to the Continua Agents that will run the build.

By using triggers, Continua can automatically trigger a build every time a change is commited to your VCS.

Repositories can be created in Continua at either the Global, Project or Configuration level. Check out our Repository Scope page for more information on how to assign a repository to the various scope levels and why this distinction is a good idea.

Repository Types

Continua CI uses multiple repository types when dealing with various VCSs. Each VCS that is supported by Continua has a matching repository type. For example, if you want to link a mercurial repository to Continua then you would have to create a mercurial repository. Each repository type required different information to connect to their respective VCS. For more information on a specific type of repository, see the Repository Types section.

Creating and Editing Repositories

how to edit or create a repository

Name

Issue Connector

Polling Frequency

Timeout (mins)

Type

Enabled

Exclude Patterns

Downtime

Repository Scope

provide a link to the repository scope page

Resetting a Repository

Configuration Repositories

The main function of the Configuration Wizard's Repository page is to create and assign repositories to the Configuration. For a repository to be usable by a Configuration it first must be assign to it. Global and Project Repositories can be assigned to a Configuration by selecting the checkbox next to the Repositories name. The following picture shows all the repositories in Continua CI that this Configuration can access. Both the Global Repository MyGlobalRepo and the project level repository myProjectRepo are assigned to the Configuration we're editing since its check box is ticked.

Note: The two Configuration specific repositories MyConfigurationRepo and hg do not have a check box next to its name. This is because Repositories with Configuration scope are always assigned to the Configuration.

Creating Repositories in the Configuration Wizard

A repository can be created both in the Project Wizard and the Configuration Wizard. The Project Wizard restricts you to creating and modifying repositories at the Global and Project level scope. In the Configuration Wizard, you have a third option when creating a Repository, and that is to create one within the Configuration scope. A repository created with Configuration scope can only be accessed by that Configuration and is automatically assigned to the Configuration.

Project Repositories

The Repository step of the Project Wizard allows you to create repositories that can be used by any Configuration in Continua (known as global repositories) and repositories specific to the current project (known as project repositories) which can only be used by Configurations in the project.

The repositories are displayed grouped by their scope type, Global and Project.

Each section has its own [Create] button which pops up a dialog to create a repository. You will see the same create dialog irrespective of the repositories scope so make sure you click the correct [Create] button to create the repository with the right scope.

Issue Tracker

If you've setup an Issue Connector, this is the place to assign it to the repository. The Issue tracker is optional and can be added at any time. See Issue Connectors for more information.

Polling Frequency

The frequency at which Continua will check for changes in the repository.

Type

The type of version control system of your repository. See Repository Types for a full list of supported repositories. When you select a repository type, additional tabs will be displayed containing repository specific settings.  

Validation

Once a Type has been selected and the appropriate fields filled in, you can click the Validate button to check if the settings are correct.

Modify a Repository

After creating a repository you will see it listed on the wizard's repository page.

Each repository will list its name, repository type and issue tracker. In addition, it will show which configurations are using the repository and if you have the right permission, the links to edit, delete and change the scope of a repository. Editing a repository will popup a dialog exactly like the one used to create it. Changing a repositories scope is as simple as clicking the link. Note however, you will not be able to change the scope of a repository until it's safe to do so. For example, if you have a global repository that is used by configurations in ProjectA and ProjectB then you can't change the scope of that repository to exist only in ProjectA since configurations in ProjectB would then lose access to it.