Alert the right people about a Buildkite release blocker
Make a blocker visible quickly, with enough Buildkite context for the next person to act.
Trigger
Webhook received
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Action
Send Email
Sends an email via gmail api using the authenticated user's google profile display name, requiring `is html=true` if the body contains html and valid `s3key`, `mimetype`, `name` for any attachment.
Why this helps
A release blocker can sit unnoticed while the people who can resolve it are focused elsewhere.
- Surfaces the affected pipeline and reported blocker.
- Sends a focused alert to specified recipients.
- Gives the team a clear next step based on available evidence.
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 email the release owners when the event indicates a blocker, with its details and next step.
- 4Choose the webhook trigger and select where run reports should go.
- 5Test with one real blocker event and verify recipients and alert wording.
Questions about this workflow
How does Notis know an event is a blocker?
Describe the relevant condition in the instruction and make sure the webhook request includes enough Buildkite context to assess it.
Can it alert only for release pipelines?
Yes, if the event provides a pipeline identifier and your instruction names the release pipeline or criteria.
Will it escalate if nobody responds?
This workflow sends an email from the event. A separate schedule-based workflow would be needed to check for a response.
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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