How can the build time for applications (npm packages) be accelerated in Google Cloud Builds?

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There are several ways to accelerate build time for applications in Google Cloud Builds:

1. Use caching: Caching can help speed up builds by reducing the time it takes for each build step to complete. Cloud Build offers two types of caching: workspace caching and cloud storage caching. Workspace caching allows you to cache files and dependencies within the build environment, while cloud storage caching allows you to cache larger artifacts and build outputs outside of the build environment.

2. Parallelize builds: Cloud Build lets you run multiple build steps in parallel, which can help speed up builds by reducing the overall time it takes to complete them. You can parallelize builds by splitting them into smaller, independent steps that can be executed in parallel.

3. Use pre-built images: Pre-built images provide a quick and easy way to speed up builds by providing pre-configured environments with pre-installed dependencies. By using pre-built images, you can avoid the time-consuming process of configuring and installing dependencies from scratch.

4. Optimize build steps: Optimizing build steps can help reduce the time it takes for each step to complete. This can be achieved by minimizing the amount of code and data that needs to be processed in each step, and by using more efficient algorithms and tooling. For example, you can use tools like webpack to optimize the size and performance of JavaScript bundles, or use a build tool like Grunt or Gulp to automate and optimize build steps.

5. Use faster hardware: Using faster hardware can help reduce build times by providing more processing power and faster I/O speeds. Cloud Build offers different types of machine types that vary in terms of CPU and memory, so choosing a faster machine type can help speed up builds.