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Bazel Build Optimization

Seth HobsonCommunityCreated by Seth Hobson

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Software development
  • MIT
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From the author

Optimize Bazel builds for large-scale monorepos. Use when configuring Bazel, implementing remote execution, or optimizing build performance for enterprise codebases.
— the description by Seth Hobson

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a set of guidelines, configuration templates, and best practices for managing Bazel build systems. It covers the core architecture of Bazel, including workspace setup, target management, and remote caching configurations. The content is designed to assist developers in structuring their monorepos, defining build rules for various languages, and implementing performance-oriented build settings.

What it does

  • Defines patterns for structuring Bazel workspaces and packages
  • Provides templates for WORKSPACE and .bazelrc configuration files
  • Offers examples for defining TypeScript and Python build targets
  • Outlines best practices for dependency management and build caching
  • Explains core Bazel concepts like labels, rules, and aspects

When to use it

  • When setting up a new Bazel workspace for a monorepo
  • When configuring remote caching or remote execution for build performance
  • When writing or refactoring custom Bazel build rules
  • When migrating an existing codebase to use Bazel
  • When debugging build issues or optimizing build times

Advantages

  • Provides concrete configuration templates for immediate use
  • Encourages standard conventions for build file organization
  • Facilitates reproducible builds through dependency pinning
  • Helps improve build efficiency via caching strategies

Usage examples

“Show me how to configure remote caching in my .bazelrc file.”
The agent provides the specific build flags for remote cache URLs, timeout settings, and local cache paths.
“How should I structure a TypeScript library in a Bazel monorepo?”
The agent provides a BUILD.bazel template using ts_project and js_library rules with appropriate dependency linking.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/wshobson/bazel-build-optimization/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip bazel-build-optimization.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Seth Hobson

Bazel Build Optimization

Production patterns for Bazel in large-scale monorepos.

When to Use This Skill

  • Setting up Bazel for monorepos

  • Configuring remote caching/execution

  • Optimizing build times

  • Writing custom Bazel rules

  • Debugging build issues

  • Migrating to Bazel

Core Concepts

1. Bazel Architecture
workspace/
├── WORKSPACE.bazel       # External dependencies
├── .bazelrc              # Build configurations
├── .bazelversion         # Bazel version
├── BUILD.bazel           # Root build file
├── apps/
│   └── web/
│       └── BUILD.bazel
├── libs/
│   └── utils/
│       └── BUILD.bazel
└── tools/
    └── bazel/
        └── rules/
2. Key Concepts
ConceptDescription
TargetBuildable unit (library, binary, test)
PackageDirectory with BUILD file
LabelTarget identifier //path/to:target
RuleDefines how to build a target
AspectCross-cutting build behavior

Templates and detailed worked examples

Full template library and detailed worked examples live in references/details.md. Read that file when you need the concrete templates.

Best Practices

Do's
  • Use fine-grained targets - Better caching

  • Pin dependencies - Reproducible builds

  • Enable remote caching - Share build artifacts

  • Use visibility wisely - Enforce architecture

  • Write BUILD files per directory - Standard convention

Don'ts
  • Don't use glob for deps - Explicit is better

  • Don't commit bazel-* dirs - Add to .gitignore

  • Don't skip WORKSPACE setup - Foundation of build

  • Don't ignore build warnings - Technical debt

Files

references/details.md

bazel-build-optimization — templates and worked examples

Templates

Template 1: WORKSPACE Configuration
# WORKSPACE.bazel
workspace(name = "myproject")

load("@bazel_tools//tools/build_defs/repo:http.bzl", "http_archive")

# Rules for JavaScript/TypeScript
http_archive(
    name = "aspect_rules_js",
    sha256 = "...",
    strip_prefix = "rules_js-1.34.0",
    url = "https://github.com/aspect-build/rules_js/releases/download/v1.34.0/rules_js-v1.34.0.tar.gz",
)

load("@aspect_rules_js//js:repositories.bzl", "rules_js_dependencies")
rules_js_dependencies()

load("@rules_nodejs//nodejs:repositories.bzl", "nodejs_register_toolchains")
nodejs_register_toolchains(
    name = "nodejs",
    node_version = "20.9.0",
)

load("@aspect_rules_js//npm:repositories.bzl", "npm_translate_lock")
npm_translate_lock(
    name = "npm",
    pnpm_lock = "//:pnpm-lock.yaml",
    verify_node_modules_ignored = "//:.bazelignore",
)

load("@npm//:repositories.bzl", "npm_repositories")
npm_repositories()

# Rules for Python
http_archive(
    name = "rules_python",
    sha256 = "...",
    strip_prefix = "rules_python-0.27.0",
    url = "https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_python/releases/download/0.27.0/rules_python-0.27.0.tar.gz",
)

load("@rules_python//python:repositories.bzl", "py_repositories")
py_repositories()
Template 2: .bazelrc Configuration
# .bazelrc

# Build settings
build --enable_platform_specific_config
build --incompatible_enable_cc_toolchain_resolution
build --experimental_strict_conflict_checks

# Performance
build --jobs=auto
build --local_cpu_resources=HOST_CPUS*.75
build --local_ram_resources=HOST_RAM*.75

# Caching
build --disk_cache=~/.cache/bazel-disk
build --repository_cache=~/.cache/bazel-repo

# Remote caching (optional)
build:remote-cache --remote_cache=grpcs://cache.example.com
build:remote-cache --remote_upload_local_results=true
build:remote-cache --remote_timeout=3600

# Remote execution (optional)
build:remote-exec --remote_executor=grpcs://remote.example.com
build:remote-exec --remote_instance_name=projects/myproject/instances/default
build:remote-exec --jobs=500

# Platform configurations
build:linux --platforms=//platforms:linux_x86_64
build:macos --platforms=//platforms:macos_arm64

# CI configuration
build:ci --config=remote-cache
build:ci --build_metadata=ROLE=CI
build:ci --bes_results_url=https://results.example.com/invocation/
build:ci --bes_backend=grpcs://bes.example.com

# Test settings
test --test_output=errors
test --test_summary=detailed

# Coverage
coverage --combined_report=lcov
coverage --instrumentation_filter="//..."

# Convenience aliases
build:opt --compilation_mode=opt
build:dbg --compilation_mode=dbg

# Import user settings
try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
Template 3: TypeScript Library BUILD
# libs/utils/BUILD.bazel
load("@aspect_rules_ts//ts:defs.bzl", "ts_project")
load("@aspect_rules_js//js:defs.bzl", "js_library")
load("@npm//:defs.bzl", "npm_link_all_packages")

npm_link_all_packages(name = "node_modules")

ts_project(
    name = "utils_ts",
    srcs = glob(["src/**/*.ts"]),
    declaration = True,
    source_map = True,
    tsconfig = "//:tsconfig.json",
    deps = [
        ":node_modules/@types/node",
    ],
)

js_library(
    name = "utils",
    srcs = [":utils_ts"],
    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
)

# Tests
load("@aspect_rules_jest//jest:defs.bzl", "jest_test")

jest_test(
    name = "utils_test",
    config = "//:jest.config.js",
    data = [
        ":utils",
        "//:node_modules/jest",
    ],
    node_modules = "//:node_modules",
)
Template 4: Python Library BUILD
# libs/ml/BUILD.bazel
load("@rules_python//python:defs.bzl", "py_library", "py_test", "py_binary")
load("@pip//:requirements.bzl", "requirement")

py_library(
    name = "ml",
    srcs = glob(["src/**/*.py"]),
    deps = [
        requirement("numpy"),
        requirement("pandas"),
        requirement("scikit-learn"),
        "//libs/utils:utils_py",
    ],
    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
)

py_test(
    name = "ml_test",
    srcs = glob(["tests/**/*.py"]),
    deps = [
        ":ml",
        requirement("pytest"),
    ],
    size = "medium",
    timeout = "moderate",
)

py_binary(
    name = "train",
    srcs = ["train.py"],
    deps = [":ml"],
    data = ["//data:training_data"],
)
Template 5: Custom Rule for Docker
# tools/bazel/rules/docker.bzl
def _docker_image_impl(ctx):
    dockerfile = ctx.file.dockerfile
    base_image = ctx.attr.base_image
    layers = ctx.files.layers

    # Build the image
    output = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.attr.name + ".tar")

    args = ctx.actions.args()
    args.add("--dockerfile", dockerfile)
    args.add("--output", output)
    args.add("--base", base_image)
    args.add_all("--layer", layers)

    ctx.actions.run(
        inputs = [dockerfile] + layers,
        outputs = [output],
        executable = ctx.executable._builder,
        arguments = [args],
        mnemonic = "DockerBuild",
        progress_message = "Building Docker image %s" % ctx.label,
    )

    return [DefaultInfo(files = depset([output]))]

docker_image = rule(
    implementation = _docker_image_impl,
    attrs = {
        "dockerfile": attr.label(
            allow_single_file = [".dockerfile", "Dockerfile"],
            mandatory = True,
        ),
        "base_image": attr.string(mandatory = True),
        "layers": attr.label_list(allow_files = True),
        "_builder": attr.label(
            default = "//tools/docker:builder",
            executable = True,
            cfg = "exec",
        ),
    },
)
Template 6: Query and Dependency Analysis
# Find all dependencies of a target
bazel query "deps(//apps/web:web)"

# Find reverse dependencies (what depends on this)
bazel query "rdeps(//..., //libs/utils:utils)"

# Find all targets in a package
bazel query "//libs/..."

# Find changed targets since commit
bazel query "rdeps(//..., set($(git diff --name-only HEAD~1 | sed 's/.*/"&"/' | tr '\n' ' ')))"

# Generate dependency graph
bazel query "deps(//apps/web:web)" --output=graph | dot -Tpng > deps.png

# Find all test targets
bazel query "kind('.*_test', //...)"

# Find targets with specific tag
bazel query "attr(tags, 'integration', //...)"

# Compute build graph size
bazel query "deps(//...)" --output=package | wc -l
Template 7: Remote Execution Setup
# platforms/BUILD.bazel
platform(
    name = "linux_x86_64",
    constraint_values = [
        "@platforms//os:linux",
        "@platforms//cpu:x86_64",
    ],
    exec_properties = {
        "container-image": "docker://gcr.io/myproject/bazel-worker:latest",
        "OSFamily": "Linux",
    },
)

platform(
    name = "remote_linux",
    parents = [":linux_x86_64"],
    exec_properties = {
        "Pool": "default",
        "dockerNetwork": "standard",
    },
)

# toolchains/BUILD.bazel
toolchain(
    name = "cc_toolchain_linux",
    exec_compatible_with = [
        "@platforms//os:linux",
        "@platforms//cpu:x86_64",
    ],
    target_compatible_with = [
        "@platforms//os:linux",
        "@platforms//cpu:x86_64",
    ],
    toolchain = "@remotejdk11_linux//:jdk",
    toolchain_type = "@bazel_tools//tools/jdk:runtime_toolchain_type",
)

Performance Optimization

# Profile build
bazel build //... --profile=profile.json
bazel analyze-profile profile.json

# Identify slow actions
bazel build //... --execution_log_json_file=exec_log.json

# Memory profiling
bazel build //... --memory_profile=memory.json

# Skip analysis cache
bazel build //... --notrack_incremental_state

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

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Attribution and licence

Created by
Seth Hobson
Publisher
Seth Hobson (Community)
Source
wshobson/agents · plugins/developer-essentials/skills/bazel-build-optimization · commit 4bde316
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

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