How to Use Harness

Getting started with Harness

In this guide, you will learn how to set up Harness for your DevOps needs, automate deployment processes, and leverage AI for incident response. By the end, you will be ready to streamline your CI/CD workflows effectively.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to the Harness website.
2. Click on the Get Started Free button on the homepage.
3. Fill in your details to create an account. You can sign up using your email or a Google account.
4. After confirming your email, log in to your new Harness account.
5. Once logged in, follow the on-screen prompts to set up your first project, including naming your project and selecting a cloud provider.

Step 2: Your first deployment

1. From the Harness dashboard, click on Deployments in the left sidebar.
2. Select Create New Deployment.
3. Choose your application from the list or click Add Application to create a new one.
4. Follow the prompts to define your deployment strategy (e.g., Rolling, Blue/Green).
5. Set up your infrastructure by linking your cloud provider and configuring any necessary access permissions.
6. Click Deploy to initiate your first deployment. Monitor the status in real-time on the dashboard.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the AI Insights feature by clicking on the Insights tab. This will provide you with predictive analytics on potential incidents.
2. Configure alerts by going to Settings > Notifications. Set up email or Slack notifications for critical deployment events.
3. Regularly review your deployment metrics under the Metrics tab to identify areas for improvement and optimise your processes.

Pro tip

Set up automated rollback in your deployment strategy. This way, if an issue arises during deployment, Harness can automatically revert to the last stable version without manual intervention, saving you time and effort.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid overlooking permissions when linking your cloud provider. Ensure that the account used has the necessary permissions to create and manage resources. Failing to do so can result in deployment failures or limited functionality.