Local Development with AWS Serverless

Local development refers to the practice of developing and testing applications on a local machine before deployment to a cloud environment such as AWS. In the context of Serverless applications, it allows developers to simulate cloud services locally.

Step 1: Install AWS CLI

The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) enables you to interact with AWS services from your terminal.

brew install awscli

Step 2: Install Serverless Framework

The Serverless Framework simplifies the process of deploying serverless applications.

npm install -g serverless

Step 3: Create a New Serverless Project

Use the following command to create a new serverless service:

serverless create --template aws-nodejs --path my-service

Step 4: Configure Your Service

Edit the serverless.yml file to define functions, resources, and plugins.

Example Configuration:

service: my-service
provider:
  name: aws
  runtime: nodejs14.x
functions:
  hello:
    handler: handler.hello
        

1. Use Environment Variables

Store sensitive information in environment variables instead of hardcoding them.

2. Test Locally

Use tools like serverless-offline to test your functions locally.

npm install serverless-offline --save-dev

3. Keep Dependencies Up to Date

Regularly update your libraries and frameworks to benefit from security patches and new features.

4. Implement Logging

Use AWS CloudWatch for logging and monitoring your serverless applications.

5. Automate Testing

Use CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment of your serverless applications.