AWS CodeCommit, Amazon's answer that is now closed
AWS CodeCommit: A Deep Dive into AWS’s Integrated Git Service
When building on the cloud, using a toolset native to that environment offers powerful advantages in security and automation. AWS CodeCommit is Amazon’s answer to this need: a fully-managed, secure, and highly scalable source control service that hosts private Git repositories.
Unlike standalone platforms like GitHub or GitLab, CodeCommit isn’t designed to be a community hub or an all-in-one DevOps application. Instead, it is a foundational “Lego brick” within the vast AWS ecosystem, designed to integrate seamlessly with other AWS services for a complete development and deployment pipeline.
Unfortunate, AWS CodeCommit is closed new customer access. Read more here: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/devops/how-to-migrate-your-aws-codecommit-repository-to-another-git-provider/
Table of Contents
- Key Features at a Glance
- The AWS CodeCommit Philosophy: Who Is It For?
- GitHub vs. AWS CodeCommit: A Quick Comparison
- Pros and Cons
- Getting Started & Further Reading
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Key Features at a Glance
CodeCommit’s features are best understood through the lens of its integration with the AWS cloud.
| Feature | Description | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Secure Git Hosting | Provides fully managed private Git repositories. All data is encrypted at rest and in transit. | Removes the operational overhead of hosting your own Git server while providing robust, built-in security. |
| Deep AWS Integration | Natively integrates with the entire AWS developer tool suite: CodePipeline (CI/CD), CodeBuild (build service), and CodeDeploy (deployment). | Creates a powerful, serverless, and automated CI/CD pipeline using services that are designed to work together perfectly. |
| Granular IAM Security | Leverages AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for authentication and authorization. | Offers incredibly fine-grained control over who can access which repositories and what actions they can perform (read, write, branch creation, etc.). |
| High Scalability & Availability | Built on top of Amazon’s highly durable and available infrastructure (like Amazon S3 and DynamoDB). | Your repositories scale automatically with your project’s needs, from small projects to massive monorepos, without any manual intervention. |
The AWS CodeCommit Philosophy: Who Is It For?
CodeCommit is built for the AWS-native developer. Its philosophy is to provide a secure and reliable source code foundation that plugs directly into the rest of the AWS cloud. It prioritizes security, scalability, and integration over a feature-rich user interface or community features.
This makes it the ideal choice for: Organizations “All-In” on AWS: If your infrastructure, applications, and deployment targets are already on AWS, CodeCommit is the path of least resistance for source control. Security-Conscious Enterprises: Companies that need to enforce strict access policies and maintain a full audit trail (via AWS CloudTrail) of all actions performed on their repositories. Teams Building Serverless Applications: It integrates perfectly with the AWS SAM CLI and other serverless deployment frameworks. Developers Who Prefer to Assemble Their Own Toolchain: It serves as the “Commit” part of a best-of-breed CI/CD pipeline you build yourself using other AWS services.
If your primary work environment is the AWS console and CLI, CodeCommit will feel like a natural extension of your workflow.
GitHub vs. AWS CodeCommit: A Quick Comparison
The difference in philosophy between GitHub and CodeCommit is stark and defines their use cases.
| Aspect | GitHub | AWS CodeCommit |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | A comprehensive developer platform with a massive community. | A secure, integrated source control service for AWS users. |
| User Interface | Rich, collaborative web UI for pull requests, issues, and project management. | Functional AWS console UI; primary interaction is often via Git CLI and other AWS services. |
| CI/CD | Integrated, all-in-one GitHub Actions. | Assembled using other AWS services (CodePipeline, CodeBuild, CodeDeploy). |
| Pricing Model | Per-user, with a generous free tier for public and private repos. | Pay-as-you-go based on usage (users, storage, requests), with a generous free tier. |
Pros and Cons
Why You Might Choose AWS CodeCommit
Unbeatable AWS Integration: The ability to trigger AWS Lambda functions, CodePipeline executions, or other AWS events directly from repository actions is incredibly powerful. Superior Security Controls: The use of AWS IAM for permissions is a major advantage for enterprises. You can leverage existing user roles and policies without managing a separate set of credentials. Cost-Effective for Certain Teams: The pay-as-you-go model can be significantly cheaper than a per-seat plan, especially for large teams with many infrequent contributors. The free tier is also very generous (5 active users, 50 GB storage/month). Extreme Reliability and Scalability: As a managed AWS service, you inherit the world-class uptime and durability of the underlying AWS infrastructure.
Potential Drawbacks
Basic Web Interface: The UI for code review (pull requests) and collaboration is far less polished and feature-rich than GitHub’s or GitLab’s. It’s functional, but not a primary selling point. Vendor Lock-In: While your Git repo is portable, the CI/CD pipelines and IAM integrations you build around CodeCommit are specific to AWS, making a move to another cloud provider more difficult. No Community or Discovery Features: It is strictly for private development. There are no public repositories, social coding features, or discovery mechanisms. Steeper Learning Curve for CI/CD: Assembling a pipeline from CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and IAM roles is more complex and requires more AWS knowledge than writing a single GitHub Actions YAML file.
Getting Started & Further Reading
Ready to integrate your source code with your cloud infrastructure? Explore CodeCommit with these official links.
Official Website: https://aws.amazon.com/codecommit/
Documentation: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/codecommit/index.html
Pricing Page: https://aws.amazon.com/codecommit/pricing/
AWS Console: https://console.aws.amazon.com/codesuite/codecommit/
FAQ
Is AWS CodeCommit still available for new customers?
No, AWS CodeCommit is no longer available for new customer access. Existing users can continue using the service, but new users are encouraged to explore other Git providers. For migration guidance, refer to the AWS blog: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/devops/how-to-migrate-your-aws-codecommit-repository-to-another-git-provider/.
Can I use AWS CodeCommit with non-AWS tools?
Yes, CodeCommit is a standard Git service and can be used with any Git-compatible tool, such as Git CLI, IDE plugins, or third-party CI/CD systems. However, its full potential is realized when integrated with AWS services like CodePipeline and CodeBuild.
How does CodeCommit handle large repositories?
CodeCommit is built on highly scalable AWS infrastructure (e.g., S3 and DynamoDB), allowing it to handle large repositories and monorepos efficiently. It automatically scales to meet project demands without manual intervention.
What are the main alternatives to AWS CodeCommit?
Popular alternatives include GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. Each offers different strengths: GitHub for community and ease of use, GitLab for integrated DevOps features, and Bitbucket for tight integration with Atlassian tools.
How secure is AWS CodeCommit?
CodeCommit provides robust security through encryption at rest and in transit, integration with AWS IAM for granular access control, and auditability via AWS CloudTrail. This makes it a strong choice for enterprises with strict security requirements.
Conclusion
AWS CodeCommit is not trying to be the next GitHub. It is a purpose-built tool for a specific audience: developers building in the AWS cloud. It trades a rich user interface and community features for unparalleled security, scalability, and integration with the AWS ecosystem. For teams already committed to AWS, CodeCommit is a secure, efficient, and often cost-effective choice that streamlines the path from code to cloud.