Getting started with Blocks
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This guide introduces Contensis Blocks and shows how to deploy a basic Block using a container image.
If you follow a continuous integration/continous delivery approach, you should refer to our more advanced article on deploying Blocks automatically using CI/CD.
Blocks allow you to run containerised applications within Contensis. They are commonly used to render websites, handle application routing, or provide supporting services for a Contensis solution.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you'll need:
- A Contensis project
- The Contensis CLI installed
- A container image available in a container registry (public or private)
- A user account with System Administrator or Block CI permissions
Step 1: Build a container image
Your application must be packaged as a Docker image. The image must expose a web server on a single port (default is 3001).
Example:
docker build -t my-registry/my-app:latest .Push the image to your container registry:
docker push my-registry/my-app:latestStep 2: Push the Block to Contensis
Use the Contensis CLI to push the Block:
push block my-block my-registry/my-app:latest main \
-cid <commit-sha> \
-cmsg "Initial block push" \
-cdt "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ" \
-author "you@example.com" \
-committer "you@example.com" \
-repo "https://example.com/your-repo.git" \
-pr git
Once pushed, the Block appears in the Blocks section of your Contensis project.
Step 3: Preview and use the Block
After pushing the Block:
- Preview the Block in your project.
- Assign the Block to a renderer, which you can then apply to a Site View node to use the Block to render a specific section of your site, or to a content type to use the Block when rendering content created from that content type.
- Make the Block live when ready.
At this point, your Block is running inside Contensis.