AWS CodeCommit: Service Deprecation Analysis

Service Status

• CRITICAL: AWS CodeCommit deprecated for new users (July 25, 2024)
• Current State: Zombie service - existing repos functional, no new features or improvements
• Timeline: Complete shutdown date unannounced, migration required
• Discovery Method: 403 Forbidden errors for new repo creation (no advance notification)

Migration Requirements

Time Investment

• Basic Migration: 5 minutes per repo (scripted)
• 50+ Repos: 1 full day minimum
• Complete Project Migration: 2-3 months recommended
• Team Retraining: 2 weeks minimum
• CI/CD Reconfiguration: 3 days average

Breaking Changes During Migration

• 23 CodePipeline configurations will break
• All CloudFormation templates referencing CodeCommit require updates
• SSH keys and access tokens need replacement
• IAM permissions incompatible with target platforms
• CodeBuild and CodeDeploy integrations need reconfiguration
• Webhook setup required for new platforms

Alternative Platform Comparison

Platform	Monthly Cost	Free Tier	Migration Complexity	Best For
GitHub	$4/user	3 private users	Medium (80% success rate)	Most teams
GitLab	$4/user	5 users, 10GB	High (comprehensive tools)	Feature-rich environments
Bitbucket	$3/user	5 users, 1GB	Low (basic functionality)	Atlassian ecosystem
CodeCommit	$1/user	5 users, 50GB	N/A (deprecated)	Legacy only

Technical Specifications

CodeCommit Capabilities (Legacy)

• IAM Integration: Resource-based permissions with conditional statements
• Encryption: HTTPS/SSH in transit, KMS at rest
• Compliance: SOC, ISO 27001, FedRAMP certified
• Storage: Unlimited repos after user limit
• Limitations: No pull requests, issue tracking, code review, or project management

Critical Missing Features

• Pull request workflow (requires external tools)
• Issue tracking system
• Code review capabilities
• Project management tools
• Wiki documentation
• Community features

Failure Scenarios

High-Risk Situations

1. Waiting for shutdown announcement: Results in rushed migration under pressure
2. Large repo count (50+): Corrupted history in 3+ repos typical
3. Complex IAM policies: Resource-based permissions don't translate to team-based models
4. Tight integration with AWS services: Webhook configuration becomes mandatory

Common Migration Failures

• Branch protection rules break during transfer
• Git history corruption in repos with complex branching
• CI/CD pipeline failures due to permission changes
• Documentation links pointing to old repo URLs (average 12 missed references)

Resource Requirements

Technical Expertise Needed

• Git repository migration scripting
• New platform permission system configuration
• CI/CD pipeline reconfiguration
• CloudFormation template updates
• Webhook and integration setup

Financial Impact

• 3-4x increase in hosting costs (from $1 to $3-4/user/month)
• Development time for migration: 40-120 hours depending on complexity
• Training costs for new platform adoption
• Potential compliance re-certification costs

Implementation Strategy

Immediate Actions Required

1. Inventory Assessment: Count total repos and integration points
2. Platform Selection: Evaluate based on existing toolchain
3. Parallel Operation: Configure multiple Git remotes during transition
4. CI/CD Planning: Identify webhook and automation requirements

Migration Sequence

1. Export repository data using git clone --mirror
2. Configure target platform accounts and permissions
3. Import repositories (use platform-specific tools when available)
4. Reconfigure CI/CD pipelines
5. Update documentation and team training
6. Test all integrations before cutover
7. Monitor for broken references and permissions

Critical Warnings

What Documentation Doesn't Tell You

• GitHub Importer fails on complex branching patterns
• GitLab migration tools are comprehensive but slow
• Bitbucket has limited automation for large-scale migrations
• All platforms require webhook reconfiguration for AWS integrations

Operational Intelligence

• CodeCommit's IAM integration was superior to alternatives
• Resource-based policies require manual recreation in team-based systems
• VPC endpoints and cross-account access patterns don't translate
• AWS CLI integration requires complete reconfiguration

Breaking Points

• 1000+ repos: Manual migration becomes impractical
• Complex branching strategies: High risk of history corruption
• Heavy AWS integration: Extensive webhook and permission reconfiguration required
• Compliance requirements: May require platform re-evaluation and certification

Decision Support Matrix

Choose GitHub If

• Team familiarity with platform exists
• Standard development workflows sufficient
• Integration with third-party tools required
• Market standard adoption preferred

Choose GitLab If

• Comprehensive DevOps features needed
• Self-hosted option required
• Advanced CI/CD capabilities essential
• Willing to invest in learning curve

Choose Bitbucket If

• Already using Atlassian ecosystem
• Cost optimization priority
• Basic functionality sufficient
• Jira integration required

Post-Migration Gaps

• Loss of seamless IAM integration
• No native VPC endpoint support
• Cross-account access requires reconfiguration
• AWS service integration becomes webhook-dependent
• CloudWatch monitoring and X-Ray tracing unavailable
• Resource-based policy granularity lost