Question 60 of 928

Design and implement build and release pipelines →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

GitHub Actions Python Module Not Found

This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement build and release pipelines. 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.

Your team uses GitHub Actions to build a Python application. The workflow includes a step to run unit tests with pytest. The tests pass locally but fail in CI with 'ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'myapp''. The repository structure has the application code in a subdirectory 'src/'. What is the most likely fix?

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.

A
Set the working directory of the test step to 'src/'.
Why wrong: The working directory affects file paths but not Python imports.
B
Add a step to install dependencies with 'pip install -r requirements.txt'.
Why wrong: Dependencies are already installed.
C
Set the environment variable PYTHONPATH to 'src/' before running tests.
PYTHONPATH adds the directory to the module search path.
D
Add a step to run 'pip install -e .' from the repository root.
Why wrong: This requires a setup.py or pyproject.toml at the root.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Set the environment variable PYTHONPATH to 'src/' before running tests.

Option C is correct because the Python interpreter cannot find the 'myapp' module when tests run in CI, even though the code is present in the 'src/' subdirectory. Setting PYTHONPATH to 'src/' tells Python to include that directory in the module search path, allowing 'import myapp' to resolve correctly without moving or copying files. This is the most direct fix for a missing module path issue in a CI environment where the working directory is not automatically set to the source folder.

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.

✗
Set the working directory of the test step to 'src/'.
Why it's wrong here
The working directory affects file paths but not Python imports.
✗
Add a step to install dependencies with 'pip install -r requirements.txt'.
Why it's wrong here
Dependencies are already installed.
✓
Set the environment variable PYTHONPATH to 'src/' before running tests.
Why this is correct
PYTHONPATH adds the directory to the module search path.
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.
✗
Add a step to run 'pip install -e .' from the repository root.
Why it's wrong here
This requires a setup.py or pyproject.toml at the root.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse changing the working directory (Option A) with modifying the module search path, not realizing that Python's import resolution depends on sys.path, not the current working directory.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, Python's import system uses sys.path to locate modules; PYTHONPATH is prepended to sys.path at interpreter startup. In CI, the default working directory is often the repository root, so 'src/' is not in sys.path unless explicitly added. A real-world scenario is a monorepo with multiple services in subdirectories, where setting PYTHONPATH per job avoids modifying the repository structure or requiring a full package install for every CI run.

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.

Visual reference

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.

Related AZ-400 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Configure processes and communications practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Configure processes and communications.

Design and implement source control practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Design and implement source control.

Design and implement build and release pipelines practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Design and implement build and release pipelines.

Develop a security and compliance plan practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Develop a security and compliance plan.

Implement an instrumentation strategy practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Implement an instrumentation strategy.

Design and implement a DevOps infrastructure practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Design and implement a DevOps infrastructure.

Design and implement a source control strategy practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to Design and implement a source control strategy.

AZ-400 fundamentals practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to AZ-400 fundamentals.

AZ-400 scenario practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to AZ-400 scenario.

AZ-400 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise AZ-400 questions linked to AZ-400 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free AZ-400 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

AZ-400 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this AZ-400 question test?

Design and implement build and release pipelines — This question tests Design and implement build and release pipelines — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Set the environment variable PYTHONPATH to 'src/' before running tests. — Option C is correct because the Python interpreter cannot find the 'myapp' module when tests run in CI, even though the code is present in the 'src/' subdirectory. Setting PYTHONPATH to 'src/' tells Python to include that directory in the module search path, allowing 'import myapp' to resolve correctly without moving or copying files. This is the most direct fix for a missing module path issue in a CI environment where the working directory is not automatically set to the source folder.

What should I do if I get this AZ-400 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 →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Keep practising

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.

Loading comments…

This AZ-400 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-400 exam.