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AWS CodeBuild vs Packer: What are the differences?
# Introduction
1. **Deployment Automation Tools**: AWS CodeBuild is a fully managed build service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages that are ready to deploy, while Packer is a tool for creating identical machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration.
2. **Integration with AWS Services**: AWS CodeBuild seamlessly integrates with other AWS services such as AWS CodePipeline and AWS CodeCommit for a complete CI/CD pipeline, whereas Packer offers integration with various virtual machine formats like VMware, VirtualBox, and AWS AMIs.
3. **Configuration Management**: AWS CodeBuild focuses on automating the build process and packaging software, while Packer emphasizes on creating machine images with pre-configured software and settings.
4. **Build Environments**: AWS CodeBuild provides customizable build environments with pre-configured build tools, runtime versions, and Docker support, while Packer allows users to specify the necessary configurations and provisioning steps to create machine images.
5. **Pricing Model**: AWS CodeBuild charges based on build minutes and the compute type used, offering a pay-as-you-go model, whereas Packer is an open-source tool that is free to use and does not incur any direct costs.
6. **Community Support**: AWS CodeBuild is a managed service provided by AWS with comprehensive documentation and support, while Packer is supported by a vibrant community of users and contributors who continuously enhance its capabilities through plugins and templates.
# Summary
In Summary, AWS CodeBuild focuses on automating the build process and packaging software, seamlessly integrates with AWS services, and provides customizable build environments, while Packer specializes in creating identical machine images for various platforms, offering integration with virtual machine formats, and emphasizing configuration management. Both tools serve different purposes in the software development lifecycle.
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Learn MorePros of AWS CodeBuild
Pros of Packer
Pros of AWS CodeBuild
- Pay per minute7
- Parameter Store integration for passing secrets5
- Integrated with AWS4
- Streaming logs to Amazon CloudWatch3
- Bit bucket integration3
- GitHub Webhooks support2
- AWS Config and Config rule integration for compliance2
- VPC PrivateLinks to invoke service without internet2
- Windows/.NET support1
- Jenkins plugin integration1
- Ondemand scaling of build jobs1
- Scheduled builds with CloudWatch Events integration1
- Local build debug support1
- Native support for accessing Amazon VPC resources1
- Docker based build environment1
- Support for bringing custom Docker images1
- Fully managed (no installation/updates, servers to mai1
- PCI, SOC, ISO, HIPAA compliant1
- Full API/SDKs/CLI support1
- YAML based configuration1
- Great support (forums, premium support, SO, GitHub)1
- Perpetual free tier option (100 mins/month)1
- GitHub Enterprise support1
Pros of Packer
- Cross platform builds27
- Vm creation automation9
- Bake in security4
- Good documentation1
- Easy to use1
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Cons of AWS CodeBuild
Cons of Packer
Cons of AWS CodeBuild
- Poor branch support2
Cons of Packer
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What is AWS CodeBuild?
AWS CodeBuild is a fully managed build service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages that are ready to deploy. With CodeBuild, you don’t need to provision, manage, and scale your own build servers.
What is Packer?
Packer automates the creation of any type of machine image. It embraces modern configuration management by encouraging you to use automated scripts to install and configure the software within your Packer-made images.
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What companies use AWS CodeBuild?
What companies use Packer?
What companies use Packer?
See which teams inside your own company are using AWS CodeBuild or Packer.
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What tools integrate with AWS CodeBuild?
What tools integrate with Packer?
What tools integrate with AWS CodeBuild?
What tools integrate with Packer?
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What are some alternatives to AWS CodeBuild and Packer?
Jenkins
In a nutshell Jenkins CI is the leading open-source continuous integration server. Built with Java, it provides over 300 plugins to support building and testing virtually any project.
AWS CodePipeline
CodePipeline builds, tests, and deploys your code every time there is a code change, based on the release process models you define.
Apache Maven
Maven allows a project to build using its project object model (POM) and a set of plugins that are shared by all projects using Maven, providing a uniform build system. Once you familiarize yourself with how one Maven project builds you automatically know how all Maven projects build saving you immense amounts of time when trying to navigate many projects.
GitLab CI
GitLab offers a continuous integration service. If you add a .gitlab-ci.yml file to the root directory of your repository, and configure your GitLab project to use a Runner, then each merge request or push triggers your CI pipeline.
AWS CodeDeploy
AWS CodeDeploy is a service that automates code deployments to Amazon EC2 instances. AWS CodeDeploy makes it easier for you to rapidly release new features, helps you avoid downtime during deployment, and handles the complexity of updating your applications.