# 4. Unity Build Automation Part of [[Build Automation and CI]]. Previous: [[3. GameCI and GitHub Actions]]. Next: [[5. Worked Example - Windows and Android Profiles]]. > [!note] Verification status > Package **2.1.1** is released for Unity 6000.5 (2.1.0 and 2.0.8 also available). The Editor flow — create a build profile, select **Cloud Build**, install the UBA package, choose a remote builder configuration, optional **Shelve and Build** for UVCS — is from Unity's "Unity Build Automation Editor package" page. **Not run against a Unity Dashboard organization.** Dashboard labels can move; trust the live UBA docs when they disagree with a screenshot from a blog. ## 4.1 When UBA is the better fit **GameCI** shines when you already live on GitHub and want the workflow file in the repo. **Unity Build Automation** (the current name for Cloud Build, package `com.unity.services.cloud-build`) shines when you want: - Cloud machines that already know how to build Android / iOS / the targets Unity supports there - A **Build Profile** in the Editor that can kick a cloud build (Unity 6 + UBA 2.0.0 or later) - Integration with [[UVCS]] (**Shelve and Build** — uncommitted work, without a Git stash ritual) You can use both: GameCI for Edit Mode tests on every PR, UBA for the signed Android build. UBA is a **Unity service**. It needs a Unity project linked to the Dashboard, a seat/plan that includes Build Automation, and a repository connection. This note does not walk the billing or org-admin screens; official UBA docs do. ## 4.2 Editor flow (Unity 6) From the official Editor-package page: 1. Create or select a **Build Profile** (part 1). 2. Choose **Cloud Build**. The Editor prompts you to install the latest UBA package if it is missing. On 6000.5, Package Manager's released-for-this-editor version is **2.1.1**; newer 2.1.x patches are fine if the Manager offers them. 3. Configure the **remote builder** (the page's "builder configuration") for that profile. 4. Choose **Cloud Build** again to start a cloud build of the current profile. The first time, expect a login / project-link step. If Cloud Build is greyed out or missing, the package is not installed or the project is not linked. ## 4.3 Shelve and Build (UVCS only) If the project is on **Unity Version Control** and you have pending changes, UBA can **shelve** those changes and build from the shelveset so you do not have to check in WIP. Official caveats: - **Private / unversioned files are not in the shelveset.** `cm add` new files, and check `ignore.conf` so you are not excluding `.meta` files ([[UVCS]], [[1. Serialization Meta and Gitignore]]). - If UBA does not see pending changes, refresh the Pending Changes view and confirm UVCS is actually connected. This is not available as a Git feature. On Git, commit or use a branch, or use GameCI on that branch. ## 4.4 What still lives in the Dashboard Target credentials (signing keystores, provisioning profiles), machine type, whether a build is a development build, and notification hooks are often still configured in the **Unity Dashboard** Build Automation pages. Keep signing secrets there or in a secret store, not in the repo. After a build, download the artifact the same way you would a GameCI artifact, then sideload a Quest build with [[4.Quest 2 Testing and Deployment]]. ## 4.5 A fair comparison | | GameCI (GitHub Actions) | Unity Build Automation | |---|---|---| | Config as code | Workflow YAML in the repo | Profiles in the project + Dashboard targets | | License | You supply a license secret | Runs on Unity's builders under your Unity account/plan | | GitHub PRs | Native | Depends on how the repo is connected | | UVCS shelves | No | **Shelve and Build** | | Android / iOS toolchains | You must get the runner right | Often the reason people pick UBA | | Cost model | GitHub minutes + your license | Unity's UBA plan | Neither one removes the need for a local profile that already builds cleanly. ## Official docs - UBA package 2.1.1 (6000.5): https://docs.unity.com/en-us/engine/6000.5/manual/packages-list/packages-all/pack-safe/com-unity-services-cloud-build - UBA Editor package, Cloud Build, Shelve and Build: https://docs.unity.com/en-us/build-automation/build-automation-editor-package