Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started with AWS CDK:
1. Prerequisites
Before you start, ensure you have the following prerequisites:
- Node.js: AWS CDK requires Node.js. You can download and install it from the Node.js website. The recommended version is Node.js 14.x or later.
- AWS CLI: Install the AWS CLI to configure your AWS credentials. You can download it from the AWS CLI installation page.
This assumes that you have an AWS account already.
2. Install AWS CDK
AWS CDK is distributed as an npm package. You can install it globally using npm:
npm install -g aws-cdk
3. Set up your development environment
a) Create a new project
First, create a directory for your project and navigate into it:
mkdir my-cdk-project
cd my-cdk-project
Then, initialize a new AWS CDK project. Choose your preferred programming language (Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, Java, or C#). For this example, we’ll use Python:
cdk init app --language python
b) Set up a virtual environment (Python only)
If you’re using Python, set up a virtual environment to manage dependencies:
python -m venv .env
source .env/bin/activate # On Windows use .env\Scripts\activate
c) Install AWS CDK libraries
Install the AWS CDK libraries you need for your project. For example, if you’re using Python and want to work with S3, you’d install the relevant library:
pip install aws-cdk.core aws-cdk.aws-s3
4. Define your infrastructure
a) Edit the stack file
Open the my_cdk_project/my_cdk_project_stack.py file (or the equivalent in your chosen language) and define your infrastructure. For example, to create an S3 bucket:
from aws_cdk import core
import aws_cdk.aws_s3 as s3
class MyCdkProjectStack(core.Stack):
def __init__(self, scope: core.Construct, id: str, **kwargs) -> None:
super().__init__(scope, id, **kwargs)
# Create an S3 bucket
s3.Bucket(self,
"MyBucket",
versioned=True
)
b) Update dependencies
Make sure all necessary dependencies are listed in requirements.txt (Python) or package.json (TypeScript/JavaScript).
5. Deploy your stack
a) Bootstrap your environment
Before deploying your stack, you need to bootstrap your environment. This command sets up the necessary resources that AWS CDK needs to manage your deployments:
cdk bootstrap
b) Deploy your stack
Deploy your stack to AWS:
cdk deploy
This command will package your code, generate the CloudFormation template, and deploy it to AWS. You’ll be prompted to confirm the deployment.
6. Manage your stack
List stacks
You can list the stacks in your CDK app with:
cdk ls
Destroy your stack
If you want to remove the resources created by your stack, you can use:
cdk destroy
This should get you started. As you become more familiar with CDK, you can start exploring more advanced features and integrations to manage your infrastructure more efficiently.
7. Additional resources for AWS CDK
- AWS CDK Documentation: The AWS CDK Developer Guide is a comprehensive resource for learning more about CDK.
- AWS CDK Examples: Explore the AWS CDK GitHub repository for example projects and additional resources.
- Community and Support: Join the AWS Developer Forums or check out community channels like the AWS CDK Slack channel.
