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In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to fetch, modify, and update a Freestyle job (npm-version-test) on Jenkins using the Jenkins CLI. The job prints the installed Node.js and npm versions. We’ll download its XML configuration, adjust the build steps, and push the changes back.

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Prerequisites

  • Jenkins server accessible at http://localhost:8080/
  • jenkins-cli.jar downloaded locally
  • CLI access via SSH; for example: 
    ssh -l <user> -p <port> localhost
Authentication MethodCommand Example
HTTPjava -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://localhost:8080/ help
SSHssh -l siddharth -p 41397 localhost help

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1. Check Installed Node.js & npm

First, verify your local Node.js and npm versions: 
node -v
npm -v

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2. Download the Job Configuration

Fetch the existing job’s XML to a local file.

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2.1 Using HTTP

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://localhost:8080/ get-job npm-version-test > npm-job.xml

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2.2 Using SSH

ssh -l siddharth -p 41397 localhost get-job npm-version-test > npm-job.xml
Always back up your existing XML before editing. You can keep a copy:
cp npm-job.xml npm-job.xml.bak

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3. Inspect the Current Configuration

Open npm-job.xml and locate the <builders> section. It should resemble: 
<project>
  ...
  <builders>
    <hudson.tasks.Shell>
      <command>node -v</command>
      <configuredLocalRules/>
    </hudson.tasks.Shell>
  </builders>
  ...
</project>

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4. Update the Build Steps

Modify npm-job.xml so the shell step echoes a message and invokes both Node.js and npm versions. Replace the <builders> section with: 
<project>
  ...
  <builders>
    <hudson.tasks.Shell>
      <command>
        echo "Updating job config using Jenkins CLI"
        node -v
        npm -v
      </command>
      <configuredLocalRules/>
    </hudson.tasks.Shell>
  </builders>
  ...
  <buildWrappers>
    <jenkins.plugins.timestamper.TimestamperBuildWrapper plugin="[email protected]"/>
    <jenkins.plugins.nodejs.NodeJSBuildWrapper plugin="[email protected]">
      <nodeJSInstallationName>nodejs-22-6-0</nodeJSInstallationName>
      <cacheLocationStrategy class="jenkins.plugins.nodejs.cache.DefaultCacheLocationLocator"/>
    </jenkins.plugins.nodejs.NodeJSBuildWrapper>
  </buildWrappers>
</project>
Save your edits to npm-job.xml.

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5. Push the Updated Configuration

Send the modified XML back to Jenkins:

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5.1 Via SSH

ssh -l siddharth -p 41397 localhost update-job npm-version-test < npm-job.xml

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5.2 Via HTTP

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://localhost:8080/ update-job npm-version-test < npm-job.xml
A successful update returns no output.

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6. Verify Your Changes

  1. In the Jenkins UI, open npm-version-test.
  2. Check that the build step now shows: 
    echo "Updating job config using Jenkins CLI"
node -v
npm -v
  3. Trigger a new build. The console log should display something like: 
    Started by user siddharth
Building on the built-in node in workspace /var/lib/jenkins/workspace/npm-version-test
+ echo Updating job config using Jenkins CLI
Updating job config using Jenkins CLI
+ node -v
v22.6.0
+ npm -v
10.8.2
Finished: SUCCESS
That’s it! You’ve successfully edited a Freestyle job’s configuration and updated it in Jenkins using the CLI.

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