AWS CodeBuild Management Skill

Analyze and manage AWS CodeBuild projects, builds, and build environments.

MANDATORY: Discovery-First Pattern

Always list projects before querying specific resources.

Phase 1: Discovery

#!/bin/bash
export AWS_PAGER=""

echo "=== CodeBuild Projects ==="
PROJECT_NAMES=$(aws codebuild list-projects --output text --query 'projects[]')

echo ""
echo "=== Project Details ==="
if [ -n "$PROJECT_NAMES" ]; then
  aws codebuild batch-get-projects --names $PROJECT_NAMES --output text \
    --query 'projects[].[name,source.type,environment.computeType,environment.image,lastModified]' | head -30
fi

echo ""
echo "=== Source Credentials ==="
aws codebuild list-source-credentials --output text \
  --query 'sourceCredentialsInfos[].[serverType,authType,arn]' 2>/dev/null

echo ""
echo "=== Report Groups ==="
aws codebuild list-report-groups --output text \
  --query 'reportGroups[]' 2>/dev/null | head -10

Phase 2: Analysis

#!/bin/bash
export AWS_PAGER=""

echo "=== Recent Builds ==="
BUILD_IDS=$(aws codebuild list-builds --max-items 20 --output text --query 'ids[]')
if [ -n "$BUILD_IDS" ]; then
  aws codebuild batch-get-builds --ids $BUILD_IDS --output text \
    --query 'builds[].[projectName,buildNumber,buildStatus,startTime,endTime,sourceVersion]' | head -20
fi

echo ""
echo "=== Failed Builds (last 20) ==="
if [ -n "$BUILD_IDS" ]; then
  aws codebuild batch-get-builds --ids $BUILD_IDS --output text \
    --query "builds[?buildStatus=='FAILED'].[projectName,buildNumber,buildStatus,phases[-1].phaseType,phases[-1].phaseStatus]"
fi

echo ""
echo "=== Build Duration Analysis ==="
for project in $(aws codebuild list-projects --output text --query 'projects[]'); do
  {
    build_ids=$(aws codebuild list-builds-for-project --project-name "$project" --max-items 5 --output text --query 'ids[]')
    if [ -n "$build_ids" ]; then
      aws codebuild batch-get-builds --ids $build_ids --output text \
        --query "builds[].[projectName,buildNumber,buildStatus]" | head -5
    fi
  } &
done
wait

echo ""
echo "=== Build Environment Summary ==="
PROJECT_NAMES=$(aws codebuild list-projects --output text --query 'projects[]')
if [ -n "$PROJECT_NAMES" ]; then
  aws codebuild batch-get-projects --names $PROJECT_NAMES --output text \
    --query 'projects[].[name,environment.computeType,environment.type,environment.privilegedMode]' | head -20
fi

Output Format

• Target ≤50 lines per output
• Use --output text --query and batch-get-* APIs for efficiency
• Tab-delimited fields: ProjectName, BuildNumber, Status, Duration
• Use batch APIs instead of individual describe calls
• Never dump full buildspec -- show source type and environment only

Anti-Hallucination Rules

1. NEVER assume resource names — always discover via CLI/API in Phase 1 before referencing in Phase 2.
2. NEVER fabricate metric names or dimensions — verify against the service documentation or --help output.
3. NEVER mix CLI commands between service versions — confirm which version/API you are targeting.
4. ALWAYS use the discovery → verify → analyze chain — every resource referenced must have been discovered first.
5. ALWAYS handle empty results gracefully — an empty response is valid data, not an error to retry.

Counter-Rationalizations

Shortcut	Counter	Why
"I'll skip discovery and check known resources"	Always run Phase 1 discovery first	Resource names change, new resources appear — assumed names cause errors
"The user only asked for a quick check"	Follow the full discovery → analysis flow	Quick checks miss critical issues; structured analysis catches silent failures
"Default configuration is probably fine"	Audit configuration explicitly	Defaults often leave logging, security, and optimization features disabled
"Metrics aren't needed for this"	Always check relevant metrics when available	API/CLI responses show current state; metrics reveal trends and intermittent issues
"I don't have access to that"	Try the command and report the actual error	Assumed permission failures prevent useful investigation; actual errors are informative

Common Pitfalls

• Build status values: SUCCEEDED, FAILED, FAULT, TIMED_OUT, IN_PROGRESS, STOPPED
• Batch APIs: Always use batch-get-projects and batch-get-builds instead of individual calls
• Build phases: SUBMITTED, QUEUED, PROVISIONING, DOWNLOAD_SOURCE, INSTALL, PRE_BUILD, BUILD, POST_BUILD, UPLOAD_ARTIFACTS, FINALIZING
• Privileged mode: Required for Docker builds -- check privilegedMode in environment config
• Compute types: BUILD_GENERAL1_SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, 2XLARGE -- affects cost and build speed
• Source credentials: Shared across projects per server type -- changing affects all projects
• Cache: Check cache.type (NO_CACHE, S3, LOCAL) -- caching significantly impacts build times