Jeff’s Note #
Unlike generic exam dumps, ADH analyzes this scenario through the lens of a Real-World Lead Developer.
For AWS DVA-C02 candidates, the confusion often lies in how to deploy incremental serverless application changes efficiently without triggering full redeploys. In production, this is about knowing exactly which CLI commands or SDK functions enable rapid iterative development versus those that force full stack synthesis or bootstrapping. Let’s drill down.
The Certification Drill (Simulated Question) #
Scenario #
A software team at CloudNova Inc. is developing a serverless application on AWS. The team needs to implement a workflow that allows developers to deploy only incremental updates (small code or configuration changes) to the cloud for quick testing, without redeploying the entire application each time. This is to accelerate their continuous integration process and minimize deployment delays.
The Requirement: #
Which approach should the developer take to deploy these incremental changes efficiently?
The Options #
- A) Use the AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) to build the application. Use the
sam synccommand to deploy the incremental changes. - B) Use the AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) to build the application. Use the
sam initcommand to deploy the incremental changes. - C) Use the AWS Cloud Development Kit (AWS CDK) to build the application. Use the
cdk synthcommand to deploy the incremental changes. - D) Use the AWS Cloud Development Kit (AWS CDK) to build the application. Use the
cdk bootstrapcommand to deploy the incremental changes.
Google adsense #
leave a comment:
Correct Answer #
A
Quick Insight: The Developer Imperative #
The key here is recognizing that
sam syncis designed for incremental iterative deployments in serverless workflows, reducing deployment time by syncing only changed resources. Commands likecdk synthorcdk bootstrapdo not deploy incremental changes but rather prepare artifacts or bootstrap environments.
Content Locked: The Expert Analysis #
You’ve identified the answer. But do you know the implementation details that separate a Junior from a Senior?
The Expert’s Analysis #
Correct Answer #
Option A
The Winning Logic #
- Using AWS SAM with
sam syncallows developers to deploy only the incremental code, configuration, and infrastructure changes to AWS without performing a full stack update. This command watches your local project and pushes only differences, which significantly accelerates the iterative development cycle. - This incremental sync mechanism supports Lambda function code updates, API Gateway configs, DynamoDB table schema, and other resources without a full redeploy.
sam initis only used for starting new projects (bootstrapping starter templates), so it’s irrelevant to deployment.cdk synthgenerates CloudFormation templates locally but does not deploy anything—thus no updates happen.cdk bootstrapsets up prerequisite resources (like S3 buckets for assets) in your AWS environment only once and is unrelated to incremental deployments.
The Trap (Distractor Analysis): #
- Why not B?
sam initis for project initialization, not deployment. It doesn’t deploy anything. - Why not C?
cdk synthonly generates CloudFormation templates without deploying to the cloud. - Why not D?
cdk bootstrapsets up the environment once but does not deploy or sync application changes.
The Technical Blueprint #
# Efficient incremental deployment using AWS SAM CLI
sam build
sam sync
sam buildcompiles your application.sam syncdetects and applies incremental changes to deployed resources rapidly.
The Comparative Analysis #
| Option | API/CLI Action | Deployment Behavior | Performance | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | sam sync |
Incremental deployment of changes | Fast, iterative | Accelerated dev workflow |
| B | sam init |
Project initialization | N/A | Start new serverless app |
| C | cdk synth |
Generates CFN template only | No deploy | Template generation only |
| D | cdk bootstrap |
Environment bootstrap for assets | No deploy | One-time setup |
Real-World Application (Practitioner Insight) #
Exam Rule #
For the exam, always pick the SAM CLI sam sync command when you see keywords like incremental deployment and serverless quick iteration.
Real World #
In real projects, you might also combine sam sync with CI/CD pipelines using tools like AWS CodePipeline or GitHub Actions to automate fast serverless deployments, saving substantial developer time compared to running full sam deploy or CDK full stacks on every commit.
(CTA) Stop Guessing, Start Mastering #
Disclaimer
This is a study note based on simulated scenarios for the AWS DVA-C02 exam.