UPDATE 20140530: This article is DEPRECATED. I recommend using the pyenv plugin instead.

Jenkins CI's ShiningPanda plugin makes testing Python extremely easy. It even includes support for testing against multiple Python versions within the same Job. Unfortunately ShiningPanda, and Jenkins itself, do not automatically install these dependent Python versions.

Using Pythonbrew we can configure Jenkins to automatically download and install our dependent versions of Python.

Overview

  1. Install Shining Panda Plugin.
  2. Install pythonbrew (from within Jenkins!)
  3. Configure Jenkins' Python 'Tools'.
  4. Create Jobs, and test!

Prerequisites

  1. A live running Jenkins instance.
  2. That's it!

Steps

Phase I: Configure Jenkins

  1. From the Jenkins console browse to Manage Jenkins > Manage Plugins > Available.
  2. Select the ShiningPanda Plugin and click Download now and install after restart.
  3. After Jenkins restarts, from the console, browse to Manage Jenkins > Script Console.

  4. Paste in the following Groovy script and click Run:

    def download = """curl -skLO http://xrl.us/pythonbrewinstall"""
def download_proc = download.execute()
def install = """bash pythonbrewinstall"""
def install_proc = install.execute()

download_proc.waitFor()

println "return code: ${download_proc.exitValue()}"
println "stderr: ${download_proc.err.text}"
println "stdout: ${download_proc.in.text}"

install_proc.waitFor()

println "return code: ${install_proc.exitValue()}"
println "stderr: ${install_proc.err.text}"
println "stdout: ${install_proc.in.text}"

  5. From the Jenkins console, browse to Manage Jenkins > Configure System.

  6. Under Python click Add Python.

  7. For each Python version to install, enter a Name and click Install Automatically > Add Installer > Run Command.

    'Add Installer' dialog

  8. Given a Python version of X.Y.Z, for Command enter: $HOME/.pythonbrew/bin/pythonbrew install X.Y.Z

  9. Given a Python version of X.Y.Z, for Tool Home enter: $HOME/.pythonbrew/pythons/Python-X.Y.Z/
  10. Click Save

Phase II: Create Job

  1. From the Jenkins console, browse to New Job.
  2. Enter a Job name and select Build multi-configuration project.

  3. Under Configuration Matrix, click Add Axis > Python.

    'Add axis' dialog

  4. Select the Python version(s) to run this job against.

    'Python' dialog

  5. Under Build, Add build steps for your project.

  6. Test!

Usage

I prefer using the Virtualenv Builder for my project, with the following Commands:

$PYTHON_EXE setup.py install
$PYTHON_EXE setup.py nosetests

'Virtualenv Builder' dialog

Which leaves me with healthy, all natural, self-installed multiple Python version job configuration:

'Configurations' dialog