AWS CodePipeline vs CodeBuild vs CodeDeploy: Key Differences & Usage

AWS CodePipeline automates the entire software release process by orchestrating build, test, and deploy stages. CodeBuild is a service that compiles source code and runs tests, while CodeDeploy handles the deployment of applications to servers or instances.

Quick Comparison

This table summarizes the main roles and features of AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy.

Feature	CodePipeline	CodeBuild	CodeDeploy
Primary Role	Orchestrates CI/CD workflows	Builds and tests code	Deploys applications to servers
Type of Service	Pipeline automation	Build service	Deployment service
Input	Source code repository or artifacts	Source code	Built application artifacts
Output	Triggers build and deploy stages	Build artifacts and test results	Deployed application on target instances
Typical Use Case	Automate end-to-end release	Compile and test code	Roll out app updates safely
Integration	Integrates with CodeBuild and CodeDeploy	Used inside CodePipeline or standalone	Used inside CodePipeline or standalone

Key Differences

CodePipeline is like the conductor of an orchestra, managing the sequence of steps from code commit to deployment. It connects different services like CodeBuild and CodeDeploy to automate the entire release process.

CodeBuild focuses on compiling your source code and running tests. It takes your code, builds it, and produces artifacts ready for deployment. It can run independently or as part of a pipeline.

CodeDeploy specializes in safely deploying your built application to servers, virtual machines, or containers. It handles deployment strategies like rolling updates and can work with on-premises or cloud instances. Unlike CodeBuild, it does not build code but only deploys it.

Code Comparison

Here is an example of a simple AWS CodePipeline JSON snippet that uses CodeBuild to build code and CodeDeploy to deploy it.

json

{
  "pipeline": {
    "name": "MyAppPipeline",
    "roleArn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/AWSCodePipelineServiceRole",
    "stages": [
      {
        "name": "Source",
        "actions": [
          {
            "name": "SourceAction",
            "actionTypeId": {
              "category": "Source",
              "owner": "AWS",
              "provider": "S3",
              "version": "1"
            },
            "outputArtifacts": [{"name": "SourceOutput"}],
            "configuration": {"S3Bucket": "my-source-bucket", "S3ObjectKey": "app.zip"}
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Build",
        "actions": [
          {
            "name": "BuildAction",
            "actionTypeId": {
              "category": "Build",
              "owner": "AWS",
              "provider": "CodeBuild",
              "version": "1"
            },
            "inputArtifacts": [{"name": "SourceOutput"}],
            "outputArtifacts": [{"name": "BuildOutput"}],
            "configuration": {"ProjectName": "MyCodeBuildProject"}
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Deploy",
        "actions": [
          {
            "name": "DeployAction",
            "actionTypeId": {
              "category": "Deploy",
              "owner": "AWS",
              "provider": "CodeDeploy",
              "version": "1"
            },
            "inputArtifacts": [{"name": "BuildOutput"}],
            "configuration": {"ApplicationName": "MyApp", "DeploymentGroupName": "MyDeploymentGroup"}
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Output

A pipeline that automatically fetches source code, builds it using CodeBuild, and deploys it using CodeDeploy.

CodeBuild Equivalent

This is a simple AWS CodeBuild buildspec.yml file that defines how to build and test a project independently.

yaml

version: 0.2
phases:
  install:
    commands:
      - echo Installing dependencies
      - npm install
  build:
    commands:
      - echo Building the project
      - npm run build
  post_build:
    commands:
      - echo Build completed
artifacts:
  files:
    - '**/*'
  discard-paths: yes

Output

Build runs npm install, builds the project, and outputs all files as artifacts.

When to Use Which

Choose CodePipeline when you want to automate your entire software release process, connecting source, build, test, and deploy stages in one flow.

Choose CodeBuild when you need a service to compile your code and run tests, either standalone or as part of a pipeline.

Choose CodeDeploy when your focus is on deploying application updates safely to servers or instances, managing deployment strategies like rolling updates.

Key Takeaways

CodePipeline automates the full CI/CD workflow by connecting build and deploy services.

CodeBuild compiles and tests your code, producing artifacts for deployment.

CodeDeploy handles the deployment of built applications to servers or instances.

Use CodePipeline for end-to-end automation, CodeBuild for building, and CodeDeploy for deploying.

These services integrate smoothly to create reliable and automated release pipelines.