AWS DVA-C02 Drill: Version Control for Code - CodeCommit vs. S3 Versioning

Jeff’s Note (Contextual Hook)

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Jeff’s Note

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“Unlike generic exam dumps, ADH analyzes this scenario through the lens of a Real-World Lead Developer.”

“For DVA-C02 candidates, the confusion often lies in conflating S3 versioning with true source control management. In production, this is about knowing exactly which AWS service provides Git-based workflows with branch management, pull requests, and atomic commits. Let’s drill down.”

The Certification Drill (Simulated Question)

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Scenario

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A lead developer at CloudNexus Technologies has completed the initial implementation of a microservices API and needs to share the codebase with the engineering team for peer review. The solution must support long-term storage with comprehensive version history, enable tracking of changes across multiple commits, and facilitate collaborative code reviews before merging to production branches.

The Requirement:

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Select an AWS service that provides:

• Long-term code storage with full version history
• Multi-version tracking with change attribution
• Batch change management (commits)
• Team collaboration capabilities

The Options

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• A) AWS CodeBuild
• B) Amazon S3
• C) AWS CodeCommit
• D) AWS Cloud9

Google adsense

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Correct Answer

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C) AWS CodeCommit

Quick Insight: The Developer Collaboration Imperative

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For DVA-C02: This tests your understanding of AWS native Git repositories vs. storage services. CodeCommit provides Git-based version control with branches, pull requests, and IAM integration—essential for the git push, git pull workflows developers use daily. S3 versioning is object-level, not commit-based.

Content Locked: The Expert Analysis

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You’ve identified the answer. But do you know the implementation details that separate a Junior from a Senior?

The Expert’s Analysis

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Correct Answer

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Option C: AWS CodeCommit

The Winning Logic

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CodeCommit is AWS’s fully managed Git-based source control service. Here’s why it’s the definitive choice:

• Git Protocol Compatibility: Supports standard Git commands (git clone, git commit, git push, git pull)
• Commit-Based Versioning: Each change is tracked as an atomic commit with author, timestamp, and message
• Branch Management: Enables feature branches, hotfix branches, and protected main branches
• Pull Request Workflow: Built-in code review mechanism with approval rules
• IAM Integration: Fine-grained access control using AWS IAM policies and users
• Encryption: Data encrypted at rest (KMS) and in transit (HTTPS/SSH)

For the DVA-C02 exam: When you see keywords like “version control”, “batch change tracking”, “team collaboration on code”, or “receive feedback”, CodeCommit is the Git-native answer.

The Trap (Distractor Analysis)

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• Why not A) AWS CodeBuild?

  • CodeBuild is a build service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces artifacts
  • It consumes code from repositories but doesn’t store or version code itself
  • Exam Trap: Confusing the CI/CD build phase with source control

• Why not B) Amazon S3?

  • S3 versioning tracks object-level changes, not commit-based changes
  • No concept of branches, merges, pull requests, or diff tracking
  • Each file upload creates a new version ID, but there’s no batch commit grouping
  • Exam Trap: Mistaking object versioning for source control management
  • Real-World Note: S3 is used to store build artifacts or static assets, not application source code collaboration

• Why not D) AWS Cloud9?

  • Cloud9 is an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) in the browser
  • While it can connect to CodeCommit repositories, it’s the editor, not the repository
  • Exam Trap: Confusing the development environment with the version control system

The Technical Blueprint

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Developer Workflow with CodeCommit

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# Step 1: Clone the repository using HTTPS (Git credentials)
git clone https://git-codecommit.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/cloudnexus-api

# Step 2: Create a feature branch
cd cloudnexus-api
git checkout -b feature/add-authentication

# Step 3: Make changes and commit (batch tracking)
git add src/auth/
git commit -m "feat: implement JWT authentication middleware"

# Step 4: Push to CodeCommit
git push origin feature/add-authentication

# Step 5: Create Pull Request via AWS Console/CLI
aws codecommit create-pull-request \
  --title "Add JWT Authentication" \
  --description "Implements secure token-based auth" \
  --targets repositoryName=cloudnexus-api,sourceReference=feature/add-authentication,destinationReference=main

IAM Policy for Developer Access:

{
  "Version": "2012-10-17",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "codecommit:GitPull",
        "codecommit:GitPush",
        "codecommit:CreatePullRequest",
        "codecommit:GetBranch"
      ],
      "Resource": "arn:aws:codecommit:us-east-1:123456789012:cloudnexus-api"
    }
  ]
}

The Comparative Analysis

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Performance Consideration: CodeCommit repository size limit is 2GB (after compression). For monorepos exceeding this, consider Git LFS or repository splitting strategies.

Real-World Application (Developer Insight)

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Exam Rule

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“For the exam, always pick CodeCommit when you see ‘version control’, ‘batch change tracking’, ’team feedback on code’, or ’long-term code storage with history’.”

Real World

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“In reality, many organizations use GitHub or GitLab instead of CodeCommit due to richer ecosystem integrations (GitHub Actions, better UI, marketplace). However, CodeCommit offers:

• No additional cost beyond storage/requests (first 5 users free)
• Native IAM integration (no OAuth tokens to manage)
• VPC endpoint support for private repositories without internet access
• Compliance: Data stays within AWS for regulated industries

We typically use CodeCommit for internal AWS-centric projects and GitHub Enterprise for public/hybrid scenarios.”

Stop Guessing, Start Mastering

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Disclaimer

This is a study note based on simulated scenarios for the AWS DVA-C02 exam. Always refer to official AWS documentation and practice hands-on in your own AWS account.