The answer is that the 'gcloud builds submit' command lacks access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment. This error occurs because Cloud Build requires the source code to be either present in the current working directory or explicitly staged in Cloud Storage before the build is triggered; when a Vertex AI pipeline initiates the build, the command runs in a context where the source files are not available, often because the build configuration fails to include the source directory or the source is not uploaded beforehand. On the Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer exam, this question tests your understanding of how Cloud Build interacts with Vertex AI pipelines, specifically the requirement that source code must be accessible at build time—a common trap is assuming the pipeline automatically provides the code. Remember the memory tip: "Source must be staged, not just triggered," meaning the build environment needs explicit access to the code, not just a pipeline trigger.
PMLE Practice Question: Collaborating within and across teams to manage data and models
This PMLE practice question tests your understanding of collaborating within and across teams to manage data and models. 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.
Network Topology
A Vertex AI pipeline is triggered from Cloud Build using the configuration above. The pipeline fails with an error: 'Unable to submit build: The source code is not available.' 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.
The Docker build step failed silently due to a missing dependency.
Why wrong: Docker build completed, as push step ran.
B
The 'gcloud builds submit' command does not have access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment.
The source code must be provided or referenced explicitly; using 'gcloud builds submit' in a step requires the source to be available via a trigger or artifact.
C
The Docker image tag does not include a hash, causing the push to fail.
Why wrong: The push succeeded; the error is later.
D
The Cloud Build service account lacks permission to access the Vertex AI Pipeline API.
Why wrong: Error message specifically says source code not available, not permission denied.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The 'gcloud builds submit' command does not have access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment.
The error 'Unable to submit build: The source code is not available' indicates that the Cloud Build environment cannot locate the source code when the 'gcloud builds submit' command is executed. This typically happens when the pipeline is triggered from Cloud Build but the source code is not properly staged or accessible in the build context, often because the build configuration does not include the source directory or the source is not uploaded to Cloud Storage. Option B correctly identifies that the command lacks access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment.
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 Docker build step failed silently due to a missing dependency.
Why it's wrong here
Docker build completed, as push step ran.
✓
The 'gcloud builds submit' command does not have access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment.
Why this is correct
The source code must be provided or referenced explicitly; using 'gcloud builds submit' in a step requires the source to be available via a trigger or artifact.
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 Docker image tag does not include a hash, causing the push to fail.
Why it's wrong here
The push succeeded; the error is later.
✗
The Cloud Build service account lacks permission to access the Vertex AI Pipeline API.
Why it's wrong here
Error message specifically says source code not available, not permission denied.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between source code availability errors and permission or build failures, leading candidates to mistakenly attribute the error to service account permissions or Docker issues when the root cause is a missing or misconfigured source path.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When Cloud Build triggers a pipeline, it creates a build context that includes the source code from the repository or uploaded tarball. The 'gcloud builds submit' command expects the source to be in the current directory or specified via the '--source' flag; if the source is not present (e.g., because the pipeline is invoked from a different directory or the source is not included in the build config), the error occurs. In Vertex AI pipelines, the source code must be explicitly staged in Cloud Storage or a repository, and the build step must reference it correctly.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Collaborating within and across teams to manage data and models — This question tests Collaborating within and across teams to manage data and models — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The 'gcloud builds submit' command does not have access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment. — The error 'Unable to submit build: The source code is not available' indicates that the Cloud Build environment cannot locate the source code when the 'gcloud builds submit' command is executed. This typically happens when the pipeline is triggered from Cloud Build but the source code is not properly staged or accessible in the build context, often because the build configuration does not include the source directory or the source is not uploaded to Cloud Storage. Option B correctly identifies that the command lacks access to the source code in the Cloud Build environment.
What should I do if I get this PMLE 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This PMLE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 PMLE exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.