Question 787 of 256
Reduce AWS CodeBuild Build Time
A company is using AWS CodeBuild to compile a Java application. The build takes over 30 minutes, causing timeouts. The team has already increased the build timeout to the maximum. Which action would MOST effectively reduce the build time?
Quick Answer
The answer is enabling dependency caching in the buildspec file. This is the most effective action to reduce AWS CodeBuild build time because it stores previously downloaded dependencies—such as Maven or Gradle artifacts—in a cache bucket, so subsequent builds reuse them instead of re-downloading everything from scratch, which is often the primary bottleneck in Java compilation. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of build optimization strategies, specifically how caching directly addresses timeout issues caused by slow dependency retrieval. A common trap is assuming that simply increasing compute resources (like larger instances) will always solve the problem, but caching attacks the root cause of repeated network I/O, making it more efficient than scaling up. Remember the memory tip: “Cache the fetch, not just the compute” to recall that dependency caching is the first-line fix for build timeouts.
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume increasing compute resources (larger instance type) always speeds up builds, but they overlook that dependency caching addresses the most common bottleneck in Java builds—repeated artifact downloads—which is not solved by raw compute power alone.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable dependency caching in the buildspec file.
Enabling dependency caching in the buildspec file allows CodeBuild to reuse previously downloaded dependencies (e.g., Maven or Gradle artifacts) across builds, significantly reducing the time spent on dependency resolution and download. Since the build already times out at the maximum timeout, caching directly addresses the bottleneck of repeated dependency fetching, which is a common cause of long build times in Java applications.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a smaller instance type to reduce provisioning time.
Why it's wrong here
Smaller instance would slow down the build.
- ✓
Enable dependency caching in the buildspec file.
Why this is correct
Caches downloaded dependencies across builds.
- ✗
Use a larger compute type in CodeBuild.
Why it's wrong here
Increases compute resources but may not address dependency download time.
- ✗
Split the build into multiple parallel CodeBuild projects.
Why it's wrong here
May cause dependency issues and complexity.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DOP-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using AWS CodeBuild to compile a Java application. The build takes over 30 minutes, which is too long. The project uses the standard build environment. The source code is stored in an S3 bucket. What is the most effective way to reduce build time?
hard- A.Use a custom build environment with pre-installed Java.
- ✓ B.Enable local caching for dependencies in the buildspec.yml.
- C.Store the source code in AWS CodeCommit instead of S3.
- D.Increase the compute type to a larger instance.
Why B: Enabling local caching in the buildspec.yml allows CodeBuild to reuse previously downloaded dependency files (e.g., Maven .m2 repository) across builds, significantly reducing the time spent on dependency resolution. Since the build takes over 30 minutes, caching avoids re-downloading dependencies on every build, which is the most effective optimization for a standard build environment.
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This DOP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DOP-C02 exam.
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