book

Hands-On AWS CDK

by Sam Ward Biddle, Kyle T. Jones

April 2025

Intermediate to advanced

258 pages

6h 32m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Preface
How This Book Is StructuredWhy CDK?Why We Wrote This BookWho This Book Is ForHow to Use This BookWhy Projects First?DocumentationTestingWhat You Will BuildEnd of Chapter OrganizationGetting UnstuckChapter SynthReviewDiscussionExtension ActivitiesConclusionConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesO’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAcknowledgments
1. Getting Started with CDK
What You Will BuildProject 1: The Shared ProjectProject 2: The Portfolio ProjectPrepare Your Learning EnvironmentSet Up Your Cloud Development EnvironmentSet Up Your AWS AccountSet Up Your AWS BudgetsCreate an Admin IAM UserSign In and Generate Keys for Your CDK Developer UserSet Up the AWS CLISet Up Your Local Development EnvironmentSet Up Visual Studio CodeSet Up Git and GitHubInstall Prerequisite Packages and SoftwareInfrastructure as Code and AutomationHow Infrastructure as Code WorksHow CDK Works on AWSAWS CloudFormation, AWS CDK, and TerraformGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
2. Hello, CDK!
Project Architecture: Build a “Hello, CDK” Lambda FunctionGenerate a New CDK ApplicationThe Structure of a CDK ApplicationUnderstanding Application StacksInstalling DependenciesBuilding a CDK ApplicationBootstrap Your CDK ApplicationSynthesize Your CDK ApplicationProject Tutorial: Deploy a “Hello, CDK” Lambda FunctionDefine Your Lambda Function InfrastructureDefine Your Lambda Function Application LogicDeploy Your FunctionTest Your FunctionCDK DocumentationBasic CDK CommandsCDK to CloudFormationGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
3. Introducing CDK and AWS Constructs
Project Architecture: Greeting S3 BucketDefining L1, L2, and L3 ConstructsProject Tutorial: Deploy an S3 BucketProject PreparationLevel 1 ConstructLevel 2 ConstructLevel 3 ConstructWhy Use L1, L2, and L3 Constructs?Documenting Your CodeGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
4. Integrating CDK Constructs
Project Architecture: Dynamic Lambda GreetingAdd an S3 Event NotificationUsing Parameters and OverridesGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
5. Building Multistack CDK Applications
Project Architecture: Data Pipeline MicroserviceCreate a Shared Resources StackRename Your CDK ApplicationRedefine the Application Entry PointRestructure Your Application for Multiple StacksCreate a Shared Resources StackBuild Your Data Pipeline StackCheck Your WorkGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
6. Packaging and Deploying Lambda Functions
Project Architecture: Package and Deploy Lambda Functions with CDKCreate a Lambda Function to Transform CSV to JSONCreate a Lambda Function to Calculate Energy Use and NotifyTest, Deploy, Modify, and DestroyGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
7. Extending CDK Constructs
Project Architecture: Custom S3 and Lambda ConstructsCreate a Custom Lambda FunctionUnderstand the CDK FeaturesDefine PropsDefine Your ConstructDocument Your ConstructUse Your ConstructCreate a Custom S3 Bucket ConstructDeploy Your Custom ConstructsModify Your Application to Use the New ConstructsTest Your New ApplicationGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
8. Creating New Custom CDK Constructs
Project Architecture: Package and Deploy a Serverless APIWhy REST API and Why Serverless?Case StudyGo Build!Create a Blank ConstructTest Your Custom Serverless API ConstructGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
9. Working with CDK Custom Resources
Project Architecture: Deploy Amazon Q Business ApplicationCDK Custom ResourcesAWS Custom ResourcesChoosing the Right Custom Resource TypeGo Build!Test, Deploy, Modify, and DestroyTest Your APIGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities

10. Working with Third-Party CDK Constructs
Project Architecture: Extend Functionality of CDK ConstructsGo Build!Do Your ResearchUse the Amplify Web Application ConstructTest, Deploy, Modify, and DestroyGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
11. Testing CDK Applications
Project Architecture: Extend Functionality of CDK ConstructsPrecommit HooksHandle Secrets and Sensitive DataPrettier, TSLint, and Other Formatting ToolsInfrastructure Tests with JestWrite Your Own Jest TestsCustom CommandsGetting Started with CDK-NagIntegrating CDK-Nag with Your Manual TestsIntegrating CDK-Nag with Your CI/CD Pipelines and GitHub ActionsRemediating cdk-nag Errors and WarningsDocumenting Your CDK-Nag Remediations and DevOps IntegrationsGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
12. Automating DevSecOps for CDK
Project Architecture: Automating Testing and DeploymentPrecommit HooksInstall HuskyGitHub Actions for CDKCreate Your WorkflowProvide Secure PermissionsCreate Your GitHub Actions WorkflowDeploy to TestTestDeploy to Staging and ProductionDocument Your DeploymentCI/CD Concepts in CDKWriting Deployment ScriptsSetting Up GitHub ActionsIntegrating GitHub Actions for DeploymentDeploying with GitGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
13. Contributing to CDK
Anatomy of an npm LibraryDocument and Publish Your ConstructsContributing to CDKWhat About Terraform?Developer Collaboration with CDKArchitecting for Multicloud Environments with CDKBlue/Green and Canary DeploymentsBlue/Green DeploymentCanary DeploymentComparing Blue/Green and Canary DeploymentsManaging Configuration Settings for Different EnvironmentsGetting UnstuckChapter SynthDiscussionExtension Activities
14. Architecting, Building, and Publishing a Portfolio CDK Application
Into the Working Backward ProcessStep 1: Understanding the Core ProblemStep 2: Defining the Customer and Their NeedsStep 3: Defining Ideas and SolutionsStep 4: Validate and Establish Success MetricsStep 5: Go Build!Building Well-Architected ApplicationsUsing the Well-Architected Framework with CDKOperational Excellence for CDKSecurity for CDKReliability for CDKPerformance Efficiency for CDKCost Optimization for CDKSustainability for CDKThank You!
Index
About the Authors

Content preview from Hands-On AWS CDK

About the Authors

Sam Ward Biddle is a principal product architect for Amazon Web Services (AWS). Sam works across industries to develop cloud native products that solve common industry challenges. Sam holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in Computational Sociology from Reed College.

Kyle T. Jones leads solutions architecture for power, utilities, and renewable energy in North America for Amazon Web Services (AWS). In his role, he works with leading new energy companies and investor-owned utilities to solve the most complex problems in the energy transition by using the cloud. He specializes in guiding companies through the cloud journey with solutions like the internet of things, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. Outside of AWS, he is an adjunct professor of project management and analytics at American University. Kyle is a Project Management Professional (PMI-PMP) and Certified Analytics Professional (INFORMS CAP). He holds a Doctorate in Systems Engineering from George Washington University and a Masters in Applied Economics from Harvard University.

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Hands-On AWS CDK

by Sam Ward Biddle, Kyle T. Jones

About the Authors

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.