No such DSL method `stages` - jenkins

Question

I'm trying to create my first Groovy script for Jenkins:
After looking here https://jenkins.io/doc/book/pipeline/, I created this:
node {
stages {
stage('HelloWorld') {
echo 'Hello World'
}
stage('git clone') {
git clone "ssh://git#mywebsite.example/myrepo.git"
}
}
}
However, I'm getting:
java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: No such DSL method "stages" found among steps
What am I missing?
Also, how can I pass my credentials to the Git Repository without writing the password in plain text?

Answer 1

You are confusing and mixing Scripted Pipeline with Declarative Pipeline, for complete difference see here. But the short story:
declarative pipelines is a new extension of the pipeline DSL (it is basically a pipeline script with only one step, a pipeline step with arguments (called directives), these directives should follow a specific syntax. The point of this new format is that it is more strict and therefor should be easier for those new to pipelines, allow for graphical editing and much more.
scripted pipelines is the fallback for advanced requirements.
So, if we look at your script, you first open a node step, which is from scripted pipelines. Then you use stages which is one of the directives of the pipeline step defined in declarative pipeline. So you can for example write:
pipeline {
...
stages {
stage('HelloWorld') {
steps {
echo 'Hello World'
}
}
stage('git clone') {
steps {
git clone "ssh://git#mywebsite.example/myrepo.git"
}
}
}
}
So if you want to use declarative pipeline that is the way to go.
If you want to scripted pipeline, then you write:
node {
stage('HelloWorld') {
echo 'Hello World'
}
stage('git clone') {
git clone "ssh://git#mywebsite.example/myrepo.git"
}
}
E.g.: skip the stages block.

Answer 2

A Jenkinsfile can be written using two types of syntax - Declarative and Scripted.
Declarative and Scripted Pipelines are constructed fundamentally differently. Declarative Pipeline is a more recent feature of Jenkins Pipeline which:
provides richer syntactical features over Scripted Pipeline syntax, and
is designed to make writing and reading Pipeline code easier.
Many of the individual syntactical components (or "steps") written into a Jenkinsfile, however, are common to both Declarative and Scripted Pipeline.
Example:
Declarative Pipeline fundamentals
In Declarative Pipeline syntax, the pipeline block defines all the work done throughout your entire Pipeline.
Jenkinsfile (Declarative Pipeline):
pipeline {
agent any 1
stages {
stage('Build') { 2
steps {
// 3
}
}
stage('Test') { 4
steps {
// 5
}
}
stage('Deploy') { 6
steps {
// 7
}
}
}
}
Execute this Pipeline or any of its stages, on any available agent.
Defines the "Build" stage.
Perform some steps related to the "Build" stage.
Defines the "Test" stage.
Perform some steps related to the "Test" stage.
Defines the "Deploy" stage.
Perform some steps related to the "Deploy" stage.
Scripted Pipeline fundamentals
In Scripted Pipeline syntax, one or more node blocks do the core work throughout the entire Pipeline. Although this is not a mandatory requirement of Scripted Pipeline syntax, confining your Pipeline's work inside of a node block does two things:
Schedules the steps contained within the block to run by adding an item to the Jenkins queue. As soon as an executor is free on a node, the steps will run.
Creates a workspace (a directory specific to that particular Pipeline) where work can be done on files checked out from source control.
Caution: Depending on your Jenkins configuration, some workspaces may not get automatically cleaned up after a period of inactivity. See tickets and discussion linked from JENKINS-2111 for more information.
Jenkinsfile (Scripted Pipeline):
node { 1
stage('Build') { 2
// 3
}
stage('Test') { 4
// 5
}
stage('Deploy') { 6
// 7
}
}
Execute this Pipeline or any of its stages, on any available agent.
Defines the "Build" stage. stage blocks are optional in Scripted Pipeline syntax. However, implementing stage blocks in a Scripted Pipeline provides clearer visualization of each `stage's subset of tasks/steps in the Jenkins UI.
Perform some steps related to the "Build" stage.
Defines the "Test" stage. 5
Perform some steps related to the "Test" stage.
Defines the "Deploy" stage.
Perform some steps related to the "Deploy" stage.
Pipeline example
Here is an example of a Jenkinsfile using Declarative and it's equivalent scriptive Pipeline syntax:
Jenkinsfile (Declarative Pipeline):
pipeline {
agent any
options {
skipStagesAfterUnstable()
}
stages {
stage('Build') {
steps {
sh 'make'
}
}
stage('Test'){
steps {
sh 'make check'
junit 'reports/**/*.xml'
}
}
stage('Deploy') {
steps {
sh 'make publish'
}
}
}
}
Jenkinsfile (Scripted Pipeline):
node {
stage('Build') {
sh 'make'
}
stage('Test') {
sh 'make check'
junit 'reports/**/*.xml'
}
if (currentBuild.currentResult == 'SUCCESS') {
stage('Deploy') {
sh 'make publish'
}
}
}