- A
Skaffold dev loop
Why wrong: skaffold dev is for continuous local development, not for CI/CD.
- B
Skaffold init command
Why wrong: This generates a skaffold.yaml configuration, not deployment.
- C
Skaffold delete command
Why wrong: This removes deployed resources, not for deploying.
- D
Skaffold run command
skaffold run executes a single build-and-deploy cycle, ideal for CI/CD pipelines.
Question 192 of 1,000
PCDE Practice Question: Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of building and implementing ci/cd pipelines for a service. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An engineer wants to use Skaffold for local development and for CI/CD on Google Cloud. Which feature allows Skaffold to run on Cloud Build and deploy to GKE?
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
✓
Skaffold run command
The `skaffold run` command is the correct answer because it performs a one-shot build and deploy, which is the exact behavior needed for CI/CD pipelines. When integrated with Cloud Build, `skaffold run` executes the entire workflow (build, test, deploy) in a non-interactive, headless mode, making it suitable for automated deployments to GKE without requiring a continuous dev loop.
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.
- ✗
Skaffold dev loop
Why it's wrong here
skaffold dev is for continuous local development, not for CI/CD.
- ✗
Skaffold init command
Why it's wrong here
This generates a skaffold.yaml configuration, not deployment.
- ✗
Skaffold delete command
Why it's wrong here
This removes deployed resources, not for deploying.
- ✓
Skaffold run command
Why this is correct
skaffold run executes a single build-and-deploy cycle, ideal for CI/CD pipelines.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
In the Google Cloud PCDE exam, a common trap is confusing `skaffold dev` (interactive, continuous loop) with `skaffold run` (one-shot, CI/CD-ready). Candidates may incorrectly choose `skaffold dev` because it sounds like development, but it is not suitable for automated pipelines like Cloud Build.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `skaffold run` triggers the full pipeline defined in `skaffold.yaml`, including artifact building (via Docker, Kaniko, or Cloud Build), testing (via container-structure-test), and deployment (via `kubectl` or Helm). In a Cloud Build context, Skaffold can be invoked as a build step using the `gcr.io/k8s-skaffold/skaffold` image, and it respects the `--default-repo` flag to push images to a specific registry. A subtle behavior is that `skaffold run` can also be configured with `--tail` to stream logs, but in CI/CD it is typically used without that flag to avoid hanging.
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.
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Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDE question test?
Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — This question tests Building and Implementing CI/CD Pipelines for a Service — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Skaffold run command — The `skaffold run` command is the correct answer because it performs a one-shot build and deploy, which is the exact behavior needed for CI/CD pipelines. When integrated with Cloud Build, `skaffold run` executes the entire workflow (build, test, deploy) in a non-interactive, headless mode, making it suitable for automated deployments to GKE without requiring a continuous dev loop.
What should I do if I get this PCDE 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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