Everyone knows or must have heard about Amazon Web Services (AWS). It currently holds 41.5% of the cloud computing market. And if you are conversant with AWS, you’ve probably heard about AWS CodeBuild and CodePipeline. These services are specially designed to facilitate your software development processes.
You might wonder, “if both of them are so special, what’s their difference?” This article explores all the details about AWS CodeBuild and AWS CodePipeline and how they compare so that you can make a decision on which one to opt for.
What is AWS CodeBuild?
![](https://cloudpatterns.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aws-codebuild-image-1-1160x653.png)
It is a fully managed build service launched in the cloud. This allows it compiles source code and produces software packages that are to be launched.
CodeBuild is also specially designed to remove the need to provision, manage, and scale own build servers. On the plus side, it also provides packaged build environments for programming languages such as Gradle, Apache Maven, and others.
Additionally, the service is loaded with the flexibility to customize build environments and scale automatically to match build requests.
What is AWS CodePipeline?
AWS CodePipeline is a cloud computing fully managed delivery service launched to automate the release pipelines for fast and reliable updates and applications. Reviewing it closely, the service automates the build, test and deploy phases of release processes whenever there are test code changes.
This promotes the quick delivery of features and updates. CodePipeline has been tested to integrate with third-party services like GitHub and other custom plugins.
What’s the difference Between AWS CodeBuild and AWS CodePipeline console
The major difference between AWS CodeBuild and AWS CodePipeline is that while the former is classified as a continuous integration service, the latter is grouped under continuous deployment.
Let’s break it down:
What is Continuous Integration?
This is a software development process in which team members can integrate their respective work at least once daily. Every fully managed continuous integration service is reviewed by automated build tools to search for errors in their work process.
![](https://cloudpatterns.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aws-codebuild-image-2.jpg)
This method usually builds and tests the software after a code commit. In a project that is comprised of several developers, code commits are established multiple times daily.
If the test is passed, the build is then tested for deployment. The code is channelled to production if the deployment is passed and verified.
Because this release process is continuous, it’s a little surprise why it is called Continuous integration.
What is Continuous Delivery?
On the other hand, continuous delivery service is a Software Engineering process in which the Dev team develops software packages and products within a short cycle. Prepackaged build environments ensure that software can be released at any time.
![](https://cloudpatterns.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aws-codebuild-image-3-1160x386.jpeg)
Continuous delivery aims to build, test, and release products in record time consistently. This drastically reduces the time and cost that will be spent on frequent updates in production.
Other Differences between AWS CodeBuild and AWS CodePipeline
Some of the other differences between these AWS services include the following:
- Purpose. While the former is designed to build and test applications and updates, the latter automates the release process for software and applications.
- Environments. While the former isn’t utilized in prepackaged build environments, the latter is.
- Flexibility. AWS CodeBuild can be utilized as a standalone service. However, CodePipeline must be used with other services for seamless operations.
Explore CodeBuild integration with AWS CodePipeline
One of the benefits of having these services is that you can utilize them to automate the software development lifecycle – all the way from source code to deployment.
![](https://cloudpatterns.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/aws-codebuild-image-4.png)
You can use the AWS CodeBuild or AWS CodePipeline consoles in the CodeBuild process. Similarly, you can run CodeBuild using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) or AWS SDKs.
You can then use CodeBuild as a test action to test stage the pipeline in AWS CodePipeline. Or you can simply use CodeBuild as a build of the pipeline of the service.
Conclusion
CodeBuild is designed to plan, code, test, and build services, and CodePipeline is a delivery service which releases processes. However, both of them can be used to facilitate the holistic software development process.