Computation Caching: Speeding Up CI with Nx Cloud
Last updated March 21, 2024
Introduction
In the fast-paced world of software development, saving time on continuous integration (CI) processes is crucial. Nx Cloud introduces computation caching, a feature designed to dramatically speed up CI by caching the results of tasks such as builds, tests, and lints. This article delves into how computation caching works and how you can utilize it to accelerate your CI pipeline with Nx Cloud.
The Power of Computation Caching
Computation caching saves the outputs of tasks so that if the same task with the same inputs is run again, Nx Cloud can retrieve the result from the cache instead of re-executing the task. This can lead to significant time savings, especially in large projects with many reusable components.
Implementing Computation Caching with Nx Cloud
- Verify Nx Cloud Integration
- Ensure your project is integrated with Nx Cloud. If you're not set up yet, refer to the "Setting Up Your First Project with Nx Cloud" article for guidance.
- Configure Caching in Nx.json
- To enable computation caching, ensure your
nx.jsonfile is correctly configured to use Nx Cloud's caching capabilities. The configuration should look similar to this: jsonCopy code"tasksRunnerOptions":{"default":{"runner":"@nrwl/nx-cloud","options":{"cacheableOperations":["build","test","lint","e2e"]}}} - This configuration specifies which tasks are cacheable.
- Run Your Tasks
- Execute your tasks as you normally would, using the Nx CLI. For example:
perlCopy code
nx build my-app - If the task has been executed before with the same inputs, Nx Cloud will fetch the result from the cache, skipping the actual execution and saving time.
- Monitor Cache Hits and Misses
- Use the Nx Cloud dashboard to monitor your cache's performance, including hits and misses. A cache hit occurs when Nx Cloud successfully retrieves a task's result from the cache, while a miss indicates that the task had to be executed because no cached result was available.
- Optimize Your Cache Usage
- Analyze cache misses to identify opportunities for optimization. Ensure that tasks are correctly configured to be cacheable and investigate any changes that might prevent cache hits, such as changes in inputs or environment configurations.
Tips for Maximizing Cache Effectiveness
- Consistent Environments: Ensure that your build environments are consistent across CI runs to maximize cache hits.
- Selective Caching: Focus on caching the results of tasks that are time-consuming and have stable inputs over time.
- Cache Maintenance: Periodically review and clean up your cache to remove stale or unused entries, ensuring optimal performance.
Conclusion
Computation caching is a cornerstone feature of Nx Cloud, offering significant time savings by reusing the results of previous task executions. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can effectively implement computation caching in your project, leading to faster CI times and a more efficient development process.