1# Bicep Validation
2 
3Validation steps for standalone Bicep deployments.
4 
5## Prerequisites
6 
7- `./infra/main.bicep` exists
8- `./infra/main.parameters.json` exists
9- Azure CLI authenticated
10 
11## Validation Steps
12 
13- [ ] 1. Bicep Compilation
14- [ ] 2. Template Validation
15- [ ] 3. What-If Preview
16- [ ] 4. Authentication
17- [ ] 5. Linting (optional)
18- [ ] 6. Azure Policy Validation
19 
20## Validation Details
21 
22### 1. Bicep Compilation
23 
24```bash
25az bicep build --file ./infra/main.bicep
26```
27 
28**Pass:** No output (compiles cleanly)
29**Fail:** Shows line numbers and errors
30 
31### 2. Template Validation
32 
33```bash
34# Subscription scope
35az deployment sub validate \
36  --location <location> \
37  --template-file ./infra/main.bicep \
38  --parameters ./infra/main.parameters.json
39 
40# Resource group scope
41az deployment group validate \
42  --resource-group <rg-name> \
43  --template-file ./infra/main.bicep \
44  --parameters ./infra/main.parameters.json
45```
46 
47### 3. What-If Preview
48 
49```bash
50az deployment sub what-if \
51  --location <location> \
52  --template-file ./infra/main.bicep \
53  --parameters ./infra/main.parameters.json
54```
55 
56**Expected output:**
57```
58Resource and property changes are indicated with these symbols:
59  + Create
60  ~ Modify
61  - Delete
62```
63 
64### 4. Authentication
65 
66```bash
67az account show
68```
69 
70### 5. Linting (optional)
71 
72Use Bicep linter rules:
73 
74```bash
75az bicep lint --file ./infra/main.bicep
76```
77 
78### 6. Azure Policy Validation
79 
80See [Policy Validation Guide](../../policy-validation.md) for instructions on retrieving and validating Azure policies for your subscription.
81 
82## Checklist
83 
84| Check | Command | Pass |
85|-------|---------|------|
86| Bicep compiles | `az bicep build` | ☐ |
87| Template valid | `az deployment validate` | ☐ |
88| What-if passes | `az deployment what-if` | ☐ |
89| Auth valid | `az account show` | ☐ |
90| Policies validated | MCP Policy tool | ☐ |
91 
92## References
93 
94- [Error handling](./errors.md)
95 
96## Next
97 
98All checks pass → **azure-deploy**
99