Capstone Part 1: Architecture and Planning

Welcome to your Capstone Project. In this final module, you will build a professional-grade pipeline for "GlobalHealth Connect"—a multi-service application that handles patient records and appointment scheduling.

1. The Scenario

GlobalHealth Connect consists of:

1. Backend: Node.js/TypeScript API.
2. Frontend: React client.
3. Database: Postgres (with migrations).
4. Requirement: Must be secure (HIPAA-like standards), fast, and support zero-downtime deployments.

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2. The Pipeline Architecture

We will implement a Modular Parent/Child Pipeline (Review Module 10):

• Stage 1: Prep: Linting and Secret Detection.
• Stage 2: Build: Parallel Docker image creation for Front and Back.
• Stage 3: Test: Unit and Integration tests with Postgres service.
• Stage 4: Security: SAST and Dependency scans.
• Stage 5: Deploy-Staging: Automated to K8s/Docker.
• Stage 6: Deploy-Prod: Manual trigger with Approval Rules.

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Visualizing the Process

graph TD
    Start[Input] --> Process[Processing]
    Process --> Decision{Check}
    Decision -->|Success| End[Complete]
    Decision -->|Retry| Process

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3. Technology Stack

• SCM: GitLab
• Containerization: Docker & Kaniko
• Testing: Jest & Supertest
• Registry: GitLab Container Registry
• Provisioning: Terraform (Simulated)

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4. Today's Task: The Infrastructure Map

Before you write code, you must define your "Secrets" (Variables).

1. DOCKER_AUTH: For pushing images.
2. SSH_PRIVATE_KEY: For deployment.
3. DB_PASSWORD: (Scoped to environments).

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Exercise: The Architect's Blueprint

1. Draw a flowchart (or use Mermaid) showing the 6 stages of the GlobalHealth pipeline.
2. Identify a "Single Point of Failure" in this architecture. How would you fix it? (Hint: Review Module 10).
3. Why did we choose Kaniko instead of DinD for the build stage?
4. Write down the 5 most important "Quality Gates" you will implement in this project based on what you learned in Module 5.

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Summary

Part 1 is about Intention. By spending time planning the architecture, secrets, and stages of GlobalHealth Connect, you ensure that the actual "Coding" of the YAML in Part 2 is smooth and logical.

Next Lesson: Part 2: Building the Multi-Stage Pipeline.