This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 developer is using AWS Elastic Beanstalk to deploy a Node.js application. The developer wants to run a custom script to set environment variables before the application starts. Which configuration file and location should the developer use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a configuration file in the .ebextensions directory that uses container_commands.
Option A is correct because `.ebextensions` configuration files with `container_commands` allow you to run custom commands before the application starts. `container_commands` execute after the application and web server have been set up but before the application is deployed, making them ideal for setting environment variables or running setup scripts. The files must be in YAML or JSON format and placed in the `.ebextensions` directory at the root of your source bundle.
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.
✓
Add a configuration file in the .ebextensions directory that uses container_commands.
Why this is correct
container_commands in .ebextensions run custom commands during deployment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add a Procfile to the application root.
Why it's wrong here
Procfile defines process types, not custom scripts.
✗
Place a shell script in the .ebextensions/scripts directory.
Why it's wrong here
Scripts in .ebextensions/scripts are not automatically executed; they must be referenced in a configuration file.
✗
Add a cron.yaml file to the .ebextensions directory.
Why it's wrong here
cron.yaml is for cron jobs, not setting environment variables.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse `container_commands` with `commands` (which run before the application setup) or assume a Procfile is used in Elastic Beanstalk, when in fact Elastic Beanstalk uses platform-specific hooks like `.platform/hooks/prebuild` or `.ebextensions` for custom scripts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `container_commands` run with root privileges and have access to environment variables defined in the `option_settings` of the same `.ebextensions` file. They execute in alphabetical order by key name, and you can use `leader_only: true` to run a command only on the first instance during a rolling update. A real-world scenario is using `container_commands` to fetch secrets from AWS Secrets Manager and export them as environment variables before the Node.js process starts.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Add a configuration file in the .ebextensions directory that uses container_commands. — Option A is correct because `.ebextensions` configuration files with `container_commands` allow you to run custom commands before the application starts. `container_commands` execute after the application and web server have been set up but before the application is deployed, making them ideal for setting environment variables or running setup scripts. The files must be in YAML or JSON format and placed in the `.ebextensions` directory at the root of your source bundle.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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