Guide to Using AWS CodeBuild with AWS Lambda Compute

/ Tutorial

Introduction

AWS CodeBuild is a fully managed continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages that are ready to deploy. With the recent update, AWS CodeBuild now supports AWS Lambda compute as a new compute mode for build execution. In this guide, we will explore this new capability and discuss how it can benefit your development workflow.

Benefits of AWS Lambda as a Compute Mode for Build Execution

When using AWS Lambda as a compute mode for build execution in AWS CodeBuild, there are several key benefits to consider:

  1. Faster Build Execution: AWS Lambda provides near-instant startup times, which translates to faster build execution. This allows development teams to significantly reduce build times and increase overall development productivity.

  2. Cost Optimization: With AWS Lambda compute, you only pay for the actual seconds of usage. This level of granularity in billing enables cost optimizations, especially in scenarios where builds are infrequent or have variable durations.

  3. Versatile Instruction Set Architectures: CodeBuild offers AWS Lambda compute in both x86_64 and Arm64 instruction set architectures. This flexibility allows developers to choose the architecture that best suits their application requirements and optimize resource utilization.

Getting Started with AWS CodeBuild and Lambda Compute

To start using AWS CodeBuild with Lambda compute, follow these steps:

Step 1: Set Up AWS CodeBuild Project

  1. Open the AWS Management Console and navigate to the AWS CodeBuild service.
  2. Click on “Create build project” to create a new project.
  3. Provide a unique project name and configure the project settings according to your requirements (e.g., source provider, source repository, buildspec file).
  4. Expand the “Environment” section and select “AWS Lambda” as the compute type.
  5. Choose the desired instruction set architecture (x86_64 or Arm64) based on your application requirements.
  6. Configure other project settings such as caching, build logs, and notifications as needed.
  7. Click on “Create build project” to create the project.

Step 2: Configure AWS Lambda Function

  1. Open the AWS Management Console and navigate to the AWS Lambda service.
  2. Click on “Create function” to create a new Lambda function.
  3. Provide a unique function name, select the desired runtime, and choose “Author from scratch” for the blueprint.
  4. In the “Function code” section, define the code to be executed during the build process.
  5. Configure the desired environment variables and execution role for the Lambda function.
  6. Click on “Create function” to create the Lambda function.

Step 3: Configure AWS CodeBuild and Lambda Integration

  1. In the AWS Lambda console, note the ARN (Amazon Resource Name) of the created Lambda function.
  2. Go back to the AWS CodeBuild console and select the previously created build project.
  3. Navigate to the “Environment” section and expand the “Additional configuration” settings.
  4. In the “Environment variables” section, add a new variable with the key “LAMBDA_FUNCTION_ARN” and the value set to the ARN of the Lambda function.
  5. Save the changes to update the build project configuration.

Step 4: Triggering Builds with Lambda Compute

  1. Once the above steps are completed, you can trigger builds using the AWS CodeBuild console, AWS CLI, or API.
  2. Whenever a build is triggered, AWS CodeBuild will automatically provision a Lambda compute environment and execute the build steps defined in the buildspec file.
  3. Monitor the build progress and view logs in the AWS CodeBuild console.
  4. Upon completion, AWS CodeBuild will provide the build artifacts, test reports, and other relevant outputs.

Step 5: Advanced Configuration and Optimization

To further optimize your build process with AWS CodeBuild and Lambda compute, consider the following advanced configuration options:

  1. Build Caching: Utilize CodeBuild’s build caching feature to cache dependencies and artifacts between builds, reducing build times and increasing efficiency.

  2. Parallel Builds: CodeBuild allows for parallel build execution by splitting the build steps across multiple compute instances. Experiment with parallelization settings to achieve faster builds.

  3. Custom Environments: Create custom build environments using containers, which can include additional build tools and dependencies specific to your application’s needs.

  4. Debugging and Troubleshooting: Leverage AWS CloudWatch Logs and CodeBuild’s built-in debugging capabilities to diagnose and troubleshoot any issues during the build process.

  5. Integration with AWS CodePipeline: Integrate AWS CodeBuild with AWS CodePipeline to automate your CI/CD workflows, enabling seamless deployments and releases.

Conclusion

By leveraging AWS Lambda compute as a new compute mode for build execution in AWS CodeBuild, developers can experience faster build times, cost optimizations, and resource utilization flexibility. This guide has provided an overview of the benefits, setup process, and advanced configuration options for using AWS CodeBuild with AWS Lambda compute. With this knowledge, you can now integrate Lambda compute into your CI/CD pipeline and enhance your development workflow.