Prepare a clear email when a Buildkite build fails
Get the important failure details into an email draft while the build context is fresh.
Trigger
Webhook received
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Action
Create email draft
Creates a gmail email draft, supporting to/cc/bcc, subject, plain/html body (ensure `is html=true` for html), attachments, and threading.
Why this helps
Explaining a failed build takes time, and important context can disappear while you switch between Buildkite and email.
- Summarizes the pipeline, build, and failure details in one draft.
- Keeps the message ready for review before sending.
- Reduces context switching during incident follow-up.
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Buildkite and Gmail once in Notis.
- 2Create an automation in Automations, New Automation, or tell Notis to create it from any channel.
- 3In one instruction, ask Notis to summarize each failed build and draft an email with its cause, impact, and next step.
- 4Choose the webhook trigger and select where run reports should go.
- 5Test with one real failed build and review the resulting draft.
Questions about this workflow
Does this send the email automatically?
No. It creates a Gmail draft for you to review and send.
What starts the workflow?
An HTTP request to the Notis webhook starts it. Configure Buildkite or an intermediary to send a request when a build fails.
Can it identify the cause of every failure?
It can summarize details available from Buildkite, such as build status and job logs. If the logs do not explain the cause, the draft should say that the cause is unclear.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Buildkite to Gmail. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Buildkite triggers
Gmail actions
Recurring trigger
Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.
Modify email labels
Adds and/or removes specified gmail labels for a message; ensure `message id` and all `label ids` are valid (use 'listlabels' for custom label ids).
Webhook trigger
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Create email draft
Creates a gmail email draft, supporting to/cc/bcc, subject, plain/html body (ensure `is html=true` for html), attachments, and threading.
Create label
Creates a new label with a unique name in the specified user's gmail account.
Delete Draft
Permanently deletes a specific gmail draft using its id; ensure the draft exists and the user has necessary permissions for the given `user id`.
Delete message
Permanently deletes a specific email message by its id from a gmail mailbox; for `user id`, use 'me' for the authenticated user or an email address to which the authenticated user has delegated access.
Fetch emails
Fetches a list of email messages from a gmail account, supporting filtering, pagination, and optional full content retrieval.
Fetch message by message ID
Fetches a specific email message by its id, provided the `message id` exists and is accessible to the authenticated `user id`.
Fetch Message by Thread ID
Retrieves messages from a gmail thread using its `thread id`, where the thread must be accessible by the specified `user id`.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Buildkite and Gmail, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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