AWS CodeBuild
Build and test service
A managed CI service: compiles code, runs tests, and produces artifacts based on a `buildspec.yml` file; each build runs in a temporary container, with no build server to set up yourself.
- Cost$ Low
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?No
- Serverless
- In examsDVA · SOA
Think of it asLike renting an assembly workshop by the hour: bring the blueprints, and when the workshop is done you pay by the minute.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
You need automated build/test in a pipeline without operating Jenkins or your own build servers.
✗ Avoid it when
Code is already on GitHub and the team is used to GitHub Actions → use GitHub Actions (runners can run on CodeBuild).
Common uses
- Build and run unit tests on every code push
- Build Docker images and push them to ECR
- Run the build step in CodePipeline
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: Charged per build minute, with rates depending on compute type (size, OS, GPU); a dedicated-capacity fleet option is billed by running time.
⚠️ Cost traps
Reserved capacity fleets are billed even with no builds; hung builds without a timeout also consume minutes.
