# Inside a Config File: Dynamic Configuration

**URL:** <https://discuss.circleci.com/t/inside-a-config-file-dynamic-configuration/48620>\
**Category:** Self Service Configuration Review\
**Tags:** self-serve, config-review, manual\
**Created:** [July 11, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/inside-a-config-file-dynamic-configuration/48620 "2023-07-11T18:33:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![felixshiftellecon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/circleci/user_avatar/discuss.circleci.com/felixshiftellecon/32/33360_2.png) [@felixshiftellecon](https://discuss.circleci.com/u/felixshiftellecon)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/inside-a-config-file-dynamic-configuration/48620/1 "2023-07-11T18:33:03Z")

</div>

# Inside a Config File

## Dynamic Configuration

### Why Dynamic Config

[Dynamic configuration](https://circleci.com/docs/dynamic-config/) is an easy way to not have to run a full [pipeline](https://circleci.com/docs/glossary/#pipeline) when it’s not needed, saving [credits](https://circleci.com/docs/credits/) and time. Most projects can benefit from dynamic config but monolith [projects](https://circleci.com/docs/glossary/#project) especially benefit.

### Starting Out

Dynamic config has a wide variety of uses but essentially boils down to creating [pipeline parameters](https://circleci.com/docs/pipeline-variables/#pipeline-parameters-in-configuration) in a setup workflow, then running [workflows](https://circleci.com/docs/glossary/#workflow) based off those parameters.

To start using dynamic config, CircleCI has an [orb](https://circleci.com/docs/glossary/#orbs) that creates parameters based on the paths in the repo where changes have been made. With a little bit of setup you can use the [path filtering orb](https://circleci.com/developer/orbs/orb/circleci/path-filtering) to not have to run your full workflow.

### Advanced Use

Review the pipeline and figure out what parameters could be created and used to trigger conditional workflows and jobs. Create a setup config that generates those parameters then uses the continuation orb to pass them to a downstream workflow.

* * *

> **▶ Next Step: [Outside the Config: Security Settings](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/outside-a-config-file-security-settings/48622)**
> 
> **◀ Previous Step: [Inside the Config: Reusable Config Opportunities](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/reusable-config-opportunities/48619)**

> **📑 Table of Contents**
>
> [Self Service Configuration Review Overview](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/overview-self-service-configuration-review/48598)
> 
> 1. [Configuration Review Preparation](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/configuration-review-preparation/48607)
> - [Document the Config Review](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/document-the-config-review/48608)
> - [Review CircleCI Features](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/review-circleci-features/48609)
> - [Snapshot Project Metrics](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/snapshot-project-metrics/48610)
> 
> 2. [Review Each Job for Improvement Opportunities](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/review-each-job-for-improvement-opportunities/48611)
> - [General Job Opportunities](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/general-job-opportunities/48612)
> - [Execution Environment Opportunities](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/execution-environment-opportunities/48613)
> - [Opportunities for Jobs with High Duration](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/opportunities-for-jobs-with-high-duration/48614)
> 
> 3. [Review Each Workflow for Improvement Opportunities](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/review-each-workflow-for-improvement-opportunities/48615)
> 4. [High Level Improvement Opportunities](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/high-level-improvement-opportunities/48616)
> - [Inside the Config](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/high-level-improvement-opportunities/48616#inside-the-config-3)
> - [Config Security](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/config-security-opportunities/48618)
> - [Reusable Config](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/reusable-config-opportunities/48619)
> - **[Dynamic Configuration](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/dynamic-configuration/48620)**
> 
> - [Outside the Config](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/high-level-improvement-opportunities/48616#outside-the-config-4)
> - [Security Settings](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/outside-a-config-file-security-settings/48622)
> - [Secret Management](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/outside-a-config-file-secrets-management/48623)
> - [Storage Usage](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/outside-a-config-file-storage-usage/48624)
> - [Project Settings](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/outside-a-config-file-project-settings/48625)
> 
> 5. [Finalize Review](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/finalize-the-config-review/48626)