Run CI Tests Without Pushing: Microbuilds with Chunk sidecars

AI coding agents write code faster than your pipeline can catch mistakes. What if the agent could validate against CI before you ever push?

In this 5-minute demo, we set up CircleCI's Chunk CLI and run a microbuild using Chunk sidecars, secure Linux microVMs that spin up in ~1 second in your CircleCI account, mirror your working directory (no git push required), and give your agent CI-grade feedback while it's still in context.

What you'll learn:

• What Chunk sidecars and microbuilds are
• How to install the Chunk CLI and wire it into Claude Code
• How the agent auto-validates, catches a test failure, fixes it, and re-validates, all without leaving the terminal

Blog post: https://circle.ci/3SkH2YE
Try Chunk: https://circle.ci/43Q3WcU
CircleCI: https://circle.ci/4ugeKvQ

Chunk sidecars are included on every CircleCI plan. Try it today!

0:00 The problem: CI feedback is too slow for AI agents

0:30 What are Chunk sidecars and microbuilds?

1:30 Prerequisites and installing the Chunk CLI

2:00 Clone the demo repo

2:30 Authenticate with your CircleCI API token

3:30 Run chunk init to detect your stack

4:00 Plant an intentional failure in App.js

4:30 Trigger validation from Claude Code

5:00 Set your CircleCI org ID (first run only)

5:30 Chunk sidecars catches the failure

6:00 Agent fixes the bug and re-validates automatically

7:00 Microbuilds vs. full CI pipelines

7:30 Try Chunk sidecars on your own project