SmartBuild: An Intelligent Automation of Modular Application Construction

Abstract

This document presents the motivation, methodology, and anticipated outcomes of automating the deployment process for ATHLETin, a modular web application that addresses the complexities of athletic training management. Originated from the practical challenges faced by Julien Paulus, a strength and conditioning coach, the application evolved into a collaborative development under the guidance of Professor Laurent Mathy. The need to manage and monitor multi-context training schedules effectively led to the conceptualization of ATHLETin, designed to streamline communications and manage training loads through a unified web platform.

ATHLETin's architecture is highly modular, developed over several years by Master’s students. Each module functions independently but shares a common backend comprising a REST server and a PostgreSQL database. Despite its robust framework, the current manual deployment process across various entities is cumbersome and prone to errors, involving multiple steps from container setup to module configuration and integration. This manual approach severely limits scalability and maintainability, leading to a pressing need for an automated deployment solution.

The primary objective of this project is to automate the deployment process to enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and consistency. Automation will enable rapid, reliable updates and the customization of modules, catering to the specific needs of different entities. By integrating continuous integration and delivery processes, the deployment will maintain consistency across configurations, reducing errors and ensuring that all entities benefit from the latest updates.

To achieve these goals, modern tools such as GitLab for continuous integration and deployment, along with Docker for containerization and Virtual machine for deployment, will be employed. These technologies were selected for their compatibility with ATHLETin’s existing systems, ease of automating workflows, and their robust support for scalable, container-based architectures.

The expected outcomes of automating will allow ATHLETin to be deployed more widely without a proportional increase in resource allocation or effort, thereby supporting a broader range of entities and enhancing the overall utility of the application.