12.3 Test the GitOps loop

Test the end-to-end GitOps loop

Prove that a code commit flows all the way through CI -> helm update -> automatic ArgoCD deploy.

Prepare: get the latest app repo, start SonarServer and update SONAR_HOST_URL if the IP changed, note the current image tag.

Run:

git add .
git commit -m "test pipeline"
git push origin feature-X        # feature push -> NOT triggered

1. Raise a Pull Request feature-X -> main -> runs sonar + quality gate.
2. Quality gate passes -> Merge -> build/push image (new SHA tag) + update values.yaml.
3. ArgoCD auto-syncs (auto-poll ~3 min or click Sync).
4. Watch the rolling update: new pod with the new tag -> Healthy -> old pod removed.