Problem Statement
What is the main difference between Freestyle projects and Pipeline in Jenkins?
Explanation
Freestyle projects are the traditional Jenkins job type configured entirely through the web UI using point-and-click interface. Configuration is stored in Jenkins master's XML files and not version controlled. Freestyle projects are simple for basic tasks but become difficult to maintain for complex workflows, don't support sophisticated flow control, and configuration can't be reviewed or versioned alongside application code.
Pipeline projects define the entire build process as code in a Jenkinsfile stored in version control with the application code (Pipeline as Code). Pipelines support complex workflows with stages, parallel execution, conditional logic, error handling, and can be version controlled, reviewed through pull requests, and tested like application code. Pipelines are more powerful and maintainable for complex CI/CD workflows.
Pipeline advantages include version control of build configuration, code review for pipeline changes, ability to resume pipelines after Jenkins restarts, parallel execution support, better visualization with Blue Ocean, and treating infrastructure as code. Modern best practice is using Pipelines over Freestyle projects for all but the simplest jobs. Understanding both types helps maintain legacy systems while building new pipelines properly.
