Correcting Artifacts Base Directory Mismatch in AWS CodeBuild
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A team uses this buildspec.yml in AWS CodeBuild. The build fails because the 'dist' directory does not exist after the build phase. 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 build command outputs to a 'build' directory, but the artifacts base-directory is set to 'dist'.
The buildspec.yml specifies `artifacts.base-directory: dist`, but the build commands output files to a `build` directory. Since the `dist` directory is never created during the build phase, CodeBuild cannot locate the artifacts, causing the build to fail. This mismatch between the output directory and the artifacts base-directory is the most likely cause.
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 build command outputs to a 'build' directory, but the artifacts base-directory is set to 'dist'.
Why this is correct
Mismatch between output directory and artifacts base-directory.
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.
✗
The buildspec version is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
Version 0.2 is valid.
✗
The Python runtime version 3.8 is not available in CodeBuild.
Why it's wrong here
Python 3.8 is available.
✗
The requirements.txt file is missing from the source code.
Why it's wrong here
This would cause install phase failure, not missing dist.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the build failed due to a missing file or runtime issue, rather than recognizing the directory mismatch between the build output and the artifacts base-directory declaration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CodeBuild uses the `base-directory` in the artifacts section to determine where to look for files after the build phase. If the build commands output to a different directory (e.g., `build`) than what is specified in `base-directory` (e.g., `dist`), CodeBuild will not find the artifacts and will fail. This is a common misconfiguration when the build tool (like Webpack or Babel) outputs to a default directory that differs from the one declared in the buildspec.
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.
SDLC Automation — This question tests SDLC Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The build command outputs to a 'build' directory, but the artifacts base-directory is set to 'dist'. — The buildspec.yml specifies `artifacts.base-directory: dist`, but the build commands output files to a `build` directory. Since the `dist` directory is never created during the build phase, CodeBuild cannot locate the artifacts, causing the build to fail. This mismatch between the output directory and the artifacts base-directory is the most likely cause.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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