Caching files between workflow runs

When file caching is enabled, the build and test actions save on-disk files to a cache and restore them from that cache in subsequent workflow runs. Caching reduces the latency caused by building or downloading dependencies that haven’t changed between runs. CodeCatalyst also supports fallback caches, which can be used to restore partial caches containing some of the needed dependencies. This helps reduce the latency impacts of a cache miss.

About file caching

File caching allows you to organize your data into multiple caches, which are each referenced under the FileCaching property. Each cache saves a directory specified by a given path. The specified directory will be restored in future workflow runs. The following is an example YAML snippet for caching with multiple caches named cacheKey1 and cacheKey2.

Actions:
  BuildMyNpmApp:
    Identifier: aws/build@v1
    Inputs:
      Sources:
        - WorkflowSource
    Configuration:
      Steps:
        - Run: npm install
        - Run: npm run test
    Caching:
      FileCaching:
        cacheKey1:
          Path: file1.txt
          RestoreKeys:
             - restoreKey1
        cacheKey2:
          Path: /root/repository
          RestoreKeys:
             - restoreKey2
             - restoreKey3

CodeCatalyst applies cache access restrictions to ensure that an action in one workflow cannot modify the caches from a different workflow. This protects each workflow from others that might push incorrect data that impact builds or deployments. Restrictions are enforced with cache-scopes which isolate caches to every workflow and branch pairing. For example, workflow-A in branch feature-A has a different file cache than workflow-A in sibling branch feature-B.

Cache misses occur when a workflow looks for a specified file cache and is unable to find it. This can occur for multiple reasons, such as when a new branch is created or when a new cache is referenced and it hasn't been created yet. It can also occur when a cache expires, which by default occurs 14 days after it was last used. To mitigate cache misses and increase the rate of cache hits, CodeCatalyst supports fallback caches. Fallback caches are alternate caches and provide an opportunity to restore partial-caches, which can be an older version of a cache. A cache is restored by first searching for a match under FileCaching for the property name, and if not found, evaluates RestoreKeys. If there is a cache miss for both the property name and all RestoreKeys, the workflow will continue to run, as caching is best effort and not guaranteed.

Creating a cache

You can use the following instructions to add a cache to your workflow.

Visual

To add a cache using the visual editor

1. Open the CodeCatalyst console at https://codecatalyst.aws/.

2. Choose your project.

3. In the navigation pane, choose CI/CD, and then choose Workflows.

4. Choose the name of your workflow. You can filter by the source repository or branch name where the workflow is defined, or filter by workflow name or status.

5. Choose Edit.

6. Choose Visual.

7. In the workflow diagram, choose the action where you want to add your cache.

8. Choose Configuration.

9. Under File caching - optional, choose Add cache and enter information into the fields, as follows:

   Key

   Specify the name of your primary cache property name. Cache property names must be unique within your workflow. Each action can have up to five entries in FileCaching.

   Path

   Specify the associated path for your cache.

   Restore keys - optional

   Specify the restore key to use as a fallback when the primary cache property can't be found. Restore key names must be unique within your workflow. Each cache can have up to five entries in RestoreKeys.

10. (Optional) Choose Validate to validate the workflow's YAML code before committing.

11. Choose Commit, enter a commit message, and then choose Commit again.

YAML

To add a cache using the YAML editor

1. Open the CodeCatalyst console at https://codecatalyst.aws/.

2. Choose your project.

3. In the navigation pane, choose CI/CD, and then choose Workflows.

4. Choose the name of your workflow. You can filter by the source repository or branch name where the workflow is defined, or filter by workflow name or status.

5. Choose Edit.

6. Choose YAML.

7. In a workflow action, add code similar to the following:

   action-name:
     Configuration:
       Steps: ...
     Caching:
       FileCaching:
         key-name:
           Path: file-path
           # # Specify any additional fallback caches
           # RestoreKeys:
           #  - restore-key
   

8. (Optional) Choose Validate to validate the workflow's YAML code before committing.

9. Choose Commit, enter a commit message, and choose Commit again.

File caching constraints

The following are the constraints for the property name and RestoreKeys:

The following are the constraints for paths: