Bitbucket "branches:" vs "default:" - Wrong Pipeline Runs

By Kaveh Alemi·Latchkey

On a push, Bitbucket runs the most specific matching branches: glob, falling back to default: only when nothing matches. A surprising glob match - or a missing default - runs the wrong pipeline or none at all.

What this error means

A push runs a different pipeline than you expected, or runs nothing. A broad glob shadowed the one you wanted, or there was no default: to catch a branch no glob matched.

pipelines:
  branches:
    '*':            # matches EVERY branch, shadowing more specific intent
      - step: { script: [ ./generic.sh ] }
    'release/*':    # never reached for release/x because '*' matched first
      - step: { script: [ ./release.sh ] }

Diagnose it: schema, branch match, or step isolation?

Bitbucket validates the pipeline file on push, and a schema error disables the pipeline rather than failing a build, which looks like nothing happened. Each step also runs in a fresh container, so nothing carries between steps unless declared.

curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/x-yaml" \
  --data-binary @bitbucket-pipelines.yml \
  https://api.bitbucket.org/2.0/repositories/<workspace>/<repo>/pipelines/validate

Common causes

A broad glob shadows a specific one

Bitbucket picks the matching branch pipeline by specificity rules. An overly broad pattern like * can match before the specific release/* you intended.

No default catch-all

Without a default: section, a branch that matches no branches: glob runs nothing - the push silently produces no pipeline.

How to fix it

Order globs from specific to general and add default

Use precise globs and a default: fallback so every branch maps to exactly one intended pipeline.

pipelines:
  default:
    - step: { script: [ ./ci.sh ] }
  branches:
    'release/*':
      - step: { script: [ ./release.sh ] }
    main:
      - step: { script: [ ./deploy.sh ] }

Verify which pipeline a branch resolves to

1. Push to a test branch and confirm the expected section ran.
2. Remove or narrow broad globs that unintentionally match.
3. Keep a default: unless some branches should intentionally skip CI.

How to prevent it

• Prefer specific branch globs over broad wildcards.
• Include a default: catch-all unless skipping CI is intended.
• Test branch matching on a throwaway branch before relying on it.

Frequently asked questions

References

• GitHub Actions documentation