The answer is that the pipeline is referencing the task definition family name without a specific revision number, and the latest revision is inactive. This is because AWS CodePipeline requires an exact task definition revision (e.g., my-app:12) rather than just the family name (my-app) when deploying to ECS; if the latest revision in that family is marked inactive, the pipeline will fail with the “task definition family is inactive” error, even though older revisions may still be active. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how CodePipeline resolves task definitions and the difference between a family and a specific revision—a common trap is assuming the family name alone is sufficient. Remember the memory tip: “Family is a folder, revision is the file; always point to the active file, not the folder.”
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is using AWS CodePipeline to automate the deployment of a microservices application to Amazon ECS. The pipeline has the following stages: Source (GitHub), Build (CodeBuild), Deploy (ECS). The Deploy stage uses an ECS task definition and updates the service. Recently, the pipeline failed at the Deploy stage with the error: 'The task definition family is inactive.' The developer checks the ECS console and sees that the task definition family exists but is inactive. The developer also notices that the pipeline uses a parameter 'TASK_DEFINITION_FAMILY' with the value 'my-app'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The pipeline is referencing the task definition family name without a specific revision number, and the latest revision is inactive.
Option B is correct because CodePipeline expects a specific revision number, not just the family. When the family is inactive, it may be because the latest revision is inactive. The pipeline should reference the active revision. Option A is wrong because the family exists. Option C is wrong because the task role is not related. Option D is wrong because the environment variables are likely correct.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The task definition family 'my-app' does not exist in the ECS cluster.
Why it's wrong here
The family exists but is inactive.
✗
The environment variables in the task definition are not correctly set.
Why it's wrong here
Not related to inactive family.
✗
The IAM role for ECS does not have permission to register new task definitions.
Why it's wrong here
The error is about inactive family, not permissions.
✓
The pipeline is referencing the task definition family name without a specific revision number, and the latest revision is inactive.
Why this is correct
The pipeline should specify an active revision.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The pipeline is referencing the task definition family name without a specific revision number, and the latest revision is inactive. — Option B is correct because CodePipeline expects a specific revision number, not just the family. When the family is inactive, it may be because the latest revision is inactive. The pipeline should reference the active revision. Option A is wrong because the family exists. Option C is wrong because the task role is not related. Option D is wrong because the environment variables are likely correct.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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