Improve user feedback when CloudFormation reports no changes#398
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Improve user feedback when CloudFormation reports no changes#398
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When CloudFormation returns 'no changes' errors during apply, provide a clearer explanation that while the template may have differences (e.g., whitespace, comments, formatting), no actual resource changes are needed and the stack is already in the desired state. This addresses the confusing scenario where users see a template diff but CloudFormation reports: 'The submitted information didn't contain changes. Submit different information to create a change set.' Changes: - Add user_friendly_changeset_error method to detect common 'no changes' error messages and provide helpful context - Update both create and update stack flows to use the improved message - Add comprehensive tests covering various CloudFormation error messages
petervandoros
approved these changes
Jan 20, 2026
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Context
When running
stack_master apply, CloudFormation occasionally reports "The submitted information didn't contain changes. Submit different information to create a change set." This occurs even when stack_master displays a template diff, which confuses users. The issue arises when template changes are cosmetic (whitespace, comments, formatting) or don't affect actual resources, but the error message doesn't explain this clearly.Changes
user_friendly_changeset_errorhelper method to detect common "no changes" error patterns and provide clearer explanationResolves #244.