If you've been deploying Databricks Apps from Git, you know the workflow: push your code, open the Deploy dialog, enter a Git reference, and hit Deploy. It works, but requires a series of manual steps every time you push a change.
Now in Beta, automatic deployments for Databricks Apps means that when the configured branch receives a new commit, your app redeploys automatically. You can manage the Beta with a workspace-level preview.
Under the hood, Databricks registers a webhook with your repo on Github; when a push event fires on the watched branch, it triggers a new deployment. This builds on the existing Git-backed deployment model, extending it with event-driven automation so your app always reflects the latest commit on that branch. The result is a lightweight CI/CD pipeline without any external tooling, with Git as the single source of truth for what's running in production.
What you need
Before enabling automatic deployments, make sure you have the following in place:
- The Databricks GitHub app is installed on your repository. You can install the app here.
- The repository is private (public repositories are not supported).
- The app's service principal has a Git credential with access to the repository. See Connect your Git provider to Databricks.
How to enable automatic deployments on a new app
- Create a new app with auto deploy enabled
Navigate to Apps and create a new custom app. During the Configure Git step:
- Enter your GitHub repository URL and select GitHub as the provider.
- Choose a branch as your Git reference.
- Enable Auto deploy on push events.
- Create the app.
Note: The Git reference must be a branch name. Tags don't trigger automatic deployments today.
- Configure Git credentials
If your app's service principal doesn't already have a Git credential for the repository, Databricks prompts you to add one. Authorize access and automatic deployments will start.
- Push a commit and watch it deploy
After pushing a commit to your configured branch, head to your app's detail page and you'll see a new deployment kick off automatically.
Enabling auto deploy on an existing app
Already have a Git-backed app? You can enable automatic deployments on any existing app:
- Open the app details page
- Click the auto deploy badge
- Change the auto deployment branch
From this point on, every push to that branch triggers a redeployment. Turning it on the first time will also trigger a deployment.
A note on webhook limits
GitHub repositories are limited to 20 webhooks (250 for GitHub Enterprise). If you're running many apps from the same repository, keep this limit in mind.
