Additional AWS Getting Started Resources
Exploring Resources in AWS
In the previous lesson, we deployed an XJS app using SST (Serverless Stack Toolkit) in our own AWS account. But what exactly did we deploy? Let's explore the resources that were created in our account.
What are Resources?
Resources are like objects in our AWS account. Each service, like Lambda, can have one or more resource types, which are similar to classes in object-oriented programming. The actual resources deployed into your account, such as Lambda functions, are like instances of those classes.
SST is responsible for figuring out and deploying the necessary resources to support the infrastructure we've defined in our TypeScript definitions.
Viewing Resources with Resource Explorer
To view the resources deployed in our account, we'll use the Resource Explorer service in the AWS Access Portal. This service allows us to search across all regions and inventory the various services and resources in our account.
- Enable Resource Explorer by following the setup process and configuring the aggregator index region (e.g., US East 1).
- Once indexing is complete, navigate to the Resource Search page.
Here, you'll see a list of all the resources deployed in your account, including their resource types (e.g., Lambda function).
Understanding Amazon Resource Names (ARNs)
Each resource in AWS has a unique identifier called an Amazon Resource Name (ARN). You can typically find the ARN on the resource's landing page. ARNs are used to identify and interact with resources programmatically, such as when invoking a Lambda function through the API or SDKs.
Resource Tags
Resources can have tags, which are custom labels used for categorization and organization. SST automatically adds tags for the app name and stage (e.g., dev, staging, production) to every resource it deploys.
You can use these tags to filter resources in the Resource Explorer. For example, to find resources for a specific app and stage, you can use the following query:
This allows you to easily identify and manage resources belonging to different apps and stages, especially when multiple developers are sharing the same account.
Exploring Deployed Resources
Take some time to explore the resources deployed by SST for your XJS app. You can filter by resource types (e.g., S3 buckets) or use other queries to understand the infrastructure supporting your application.
Remember, you're operating within the AWS Free Tier, so there's no need to worry about costs while exploring. Gaining familiarity with the deployed resources will provide valuable context as you continue working with SST and AWS.