bk preflight runs builds against a snapshot of local changes
Introduced 2026-04-29 · score 0.98
HOW TO USE IT
When iterating on uncommitted changes, run `bk preflight run` for the selected pipeline to snapshot the working tree and monitor the build until it starts failing. The command cleans up its temporary branch when finished.
bk preflight run --pipeline <org>/<pipeline> --watchWHY THIS HELPS
When iterating on uncommitted repository changes against Buildkite Pipelines, run a preflight build and monitor its failures.
REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
- Version: v3.39.0
- Availability: Experimental preview; enabled by default. Subject to change without notice.
- --pipeline, -p (required): Pipeline slug, or `<org>/<pipeline>`; a slug can be used when the Buildkite organization is set in `bk` config.
- --watch / --no-watch: Watch the build until completion; `--no-watch` starts the build and exits immediately.
- --exit-on: Exit condition: `build-failing` (default) exits when the build enters the failing state; `build-terminal` exits when it reaches a terminal state. These values are alternatives.
- Prerequisite: The current Preflight guide requires Buildkite CLI 3.40.0 or later; this differs from the card’s v3.39.0 release.
- Prerequisite: Configure an API access token with `read_builds`, `write_builds`, and `read_pipelines` scopes.
- Prerequisite: Have Git commit and push access to the repository.
- Runs against the selected pipeline.
- Snapshots staged, unstaged, and untracked files.
- The build is monitored and the command exits as soon as the build starts failing.
- The temporary branch is cleaned up when finished.
- Docs conflict: The current guide requires CLI 3.40.0 or later, while the card describes v3.39.0. The current command reference documents `bk preflight run`; the current guide’s examples use `bk preflight` without `run`.
FIRST-PARTY EVIDENCE
- https://github.com/buildkite/cli/releases/tag/v3.39.0
- https://github.com/buildkite/cli/pull/809
- https://github.com/buildkite/cli/pull/811
- https://buildkite.com/docs/platform/cli/reference/preflight
- https://buildkite.com/docs/platform/cli/preflight
Check the installed version and the source before using it. Entry JSON