- A
Configure the CodeBuild project to use a custom VPC with a NAT gateway for internet access
Why wrong: Internet access is not the issue.
- B
Configure the buildspec to run npm install with sudo
Why wrong: Sudo is not typically available and is not best practice.
- C
Add a command to change the ownership of the node_modules directory to the current user
Why wrong: The issue is with global install, not local node_modules.
- D
Use 'npm ci' instead of 'npm install' and ensure a package-lock.json is present
npm ci uses the lock file and avoids permission issues.
Question 391 of 1,750
DOP-C02 SDLC Automation Practice Question
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.
A company uses AWS CodeBuild to run unit tests and package a Node.js application. The buildspec.yml file includes commands to install dependencies using npm. The build is failing with the error: 'npm ERR! code EACCES'. How should a DevOps engineer resolve this issue?
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
✓
Use 'npm ci' instead of 'npm install' and ensure a package-lock.json is present
The EACCES error in CodeBuild indicates a permission issue when npm tries to write to the node_modules directory. The default CodeBuild user (usually 'codebuild-user') lacks write permissions to the project root, which is owned by root. Using 'npm ci' (clean install) is the correct resolution because it bypasses the permission issue by using the package-lock.json to install dependencies deterministically, and it does not attempt to modify the lock file or run lifecycle scripts that may require elevated permissions. Additionally, 'npm ci' is faster and more reliable in CI/CD environments like CodeBuild.
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.
- ✗
Configure the CodeBuild project to use a custom VPC with a NAT gateway for internet access
Why it's wrong here
Internet access is not the issue.
- ✗
Configure the buildspec to run npm install with sudo
Why it's wrong here
Sudo is not typically available and is not best practice.
- ✗
Add a command to change the ownership of the node_modules directory to the current user
Why it's wrong here
The issue is with global install, not local node_modules.
- ✓
Use 'npm ci' instead of 'npm install' and ensure a package-lock.json is present
Why this is correct
npm ci uses the lock file and avoids permission issues.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the EACCES error is a network or VPC issue (Option A) or that sudo is a quick fix (Option B), but the exam tests knowledge of npm's behavior in CI/CD and the deterministic install method 'npm ci' as the proper solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, 'npm ci' uses the package-lock.json to install exact versions without resolving the dependency tree, which avoids the need to write to the lock file (a common cause of EACCES when the lock file is owned by root). In CodeBuild, the working directory is typically owned by root, and the build user runs with UID 1000; 'npm install' tries to create node_modules and update package-lock.json, triggering the permission error. A real-world scenario is when a buildspec runs 'npm install' and the project is checked out with root ownership from a Git clone, leading to EACCES; switching to 'npm ci' resolves this without modifying the build environment.
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 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.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
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: Use 'npm ci' instead of 'npm install' and ensure a package-lock.json is present — The EACCES error in CodeBuild indicates a permission issue when npm tries to write to the node_modules directory. The default CodeBuild user (usually 'codebuild-user') lacks write permissions to the project root, which is owned by root. Using 'npm ci' (clean install) is the correct resolution because it bypasses the permission issue by using the package-lock.json to install dependencies deterministically, and it does not attempt to modify the lock file or run lifecycle scripts that may require elevated permissions. Additionally, 'npm ci' is faster and more reliable in CI/CD environments like CodeBuild.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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