How can I have multiple CodeBuild buildspec files in different directories?

Question

I have a large monorepo with many projects in it. I want to have many build jobs, each using a buildspec in the relevant tree in the repo.

For example, I have a lambda function called Email, and a java application called Web. The source trees for each are siblings, and I want to put a buildspec in each and have different jobs use the different buildspec.yml files.

I can't find a way to make this work, as the name of the buildspec file specified in the job must be at the root of the repo (it's a git repo).

Answer 1

You can specify an alternate buildspec location in the buildspec or buildspecOverride parameter to Create/UpdateProject or StartBuild.

The buildspec path is relative to the root of your Git repo. So you can use, e.g., ./subdir/buildspec.yml

You can find the documentation here: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/codebuild/latest/userguide/build-spec-ref.html#build-spec-ref-name-storage

Answer 2

There's now a way to change the buildspec path of a CodeBuild project via the console. Edit a project (console url is https://[region-name].console.aws.amazon.com/codebuild/home?region=[region-name]#/projects) and under "Environment: How to build" there's a parameter called "Buildspec name". Set that to the path of the buildspec.yml file relative to the root directory.

Answer 3

This is now possible when using the console as well, but they don't make it easy to find.

• When you are first configuring the build, the console will not give you an option to specify a custom buildspec file name / location. Instead, in the "Environment: How to build" section choose the Use the buildspec.yml in the source code root directory option as normal and save the build project.

• Then you will be able to go back and re-edit the project. Once you do so, you will see that the "Environment: How to build" section now has a link called "Update build specification".

• Click the "Update build specification" link and a section will open up that includes a "Buildspec Name" input where you can enter the custom name of / path to your buildspec file.