Task 1: Deploy and Host a React App

Time to complete	10 minutes
Services used	AWS Amplify
Requires	A GitHub account GitHub SSH connection Nodejs and npm
Get help	Troubleshooting Amplify Learn about Hosting

Overview

AWS Amplify offers a Git-based CI/CD workflow for building, deploying, and hosting single-page web applications or static sites with serverless backends. When connected to a Git repository, Amplify determines the build settings for both the frontend framework and any configured serverless backend resources, and automatically deploys updates with every code commit.

In this task, you will start by creating a new React application and pushing it to a GitHub repository. Then, connect the repository to AWS Amplify web hosting and deploy it to a globally available content delivery network (CDN) hosted on an amplifyapp.com domain. Finally, you will demonstrate continuous deployment capabilities by making changes to the React application, pushing a new version to the main branch, and observing how it automatically invokes a new deployment.

What you will accomplish

• Create a React application

• Initialize a GitHub repository

• Deploy your app with AWS Amplify

• Implement code changes and redeploy your app

Implementation

Step 1: Create a new React Application

1. Set up the React environment

   In a new terminal window, run the following command to use Vite to create a React application:

   npm create vite@latest notesapp -- --template react
   cd notesapp
   npm install
   npm run dev
   

   

2. View your application

   In the terminal window, choose the Local link.

   

Step 2: Create the GitHub repository and commit code

Before you begin:

• You need a GitHub account. If you don't have one, sign up here.

• If you've never used GitHub on your computer, generate and add an SSH key to your account. For instructions, see Connecting to GitHub with SSH.

1. Initialize GitHub repository

   Sign in to GitHub at https://github.com/.

   

2. Create a repository

   In the Start a new repository section, make the following selections:

   For Repository name, enter notesapp, and choose the Public radio button.

   Then select, Create a new repository.

   

3. Push the new repo

   Open a new terminal window, navigate to your app's root folder (notesapp), and run the following commands to initialize a git and push the application to the new GitHub repo:

   Note

   Replace the SSH GitHub URL in the command with your SSH GitHub URL.

   git init
   git add .
   git commit -m "first commit"
   git remote add origin [e-mail]:<your-username>/notesapp.git 
   git branch -M main
   git push -u origin main
   

   

Step 3: Install the Amplify Packages

1. Configure your local repository

   Open a new terminal window, navigate to your app's root folder (notesapp), and run the following command:

   npm create amplify@latest -y
   

   

2. Review the Amplify project structure

   Running the previous command will scaffold a lightweight Amplify project in the app’s directory.

   

3. Push your changes to GitHub

   In your open terminal window, run the following commands to push the changes to GitHub:

   git add .
   git commit -m 'installing amplify'
   git push origin main
   

   

Step 4: Deploy your app with AWS Amplify

In this step, you will connect the GitHub repository you just created to AWS Amplify. This will enable you to build, deploy, and host your app on AWS.

1. Create the Amplify App

   Sign in to the AWS Management console in a new browser window, and open the AWS Amplify console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/amplify/apps.

   Choose Create new app.

   

2. Connect to your GitHub repository

   On the Start building with Amplify page, for Deploy your app, select GitHub, and select Next.

   

3. Authorize and select your respository

   When prompted, authenticate with GitHub. You will be automatically redirected back to the Amplify console. Choose the repository and main branch you created earlier. Then, select Next.

   

4. Configure build settings

   Leave the default build settings and select Next.

   

5. Deploy your application

   Review the inputs selected, and choose Save and deploy.

   

6. Verify your deployment

   AWS Amplify will now build your source code and deploy your app at https://...amplifyapp.com, and on every git push your deployment instance will update. It may take up to 5 minutes to deploy your app.

   Once the build completes, select the Visit deployed URL button to see your web app up and running live.

   

Step 5: Automatically deploy code changes

In this step, you will make some changes to the code using your text editor and push the changes to the main branch of your app.

1. Update your application code

   On your local machine, navigate to the notesapp/src/App.jsx file, and update it with the following code. Then, save the file.

   import reactLogo from "./assets/react.svg";
   import "./App.css";
   function App() {
     return (
       <div className="App">
         <header className="App-header">
           <img src={reactLogo} className="logo react" alt="React logo" />
           <h1>Hello from Amplify</h1>
         </header>
       </div>
     );
   }
   export default App;
   

   

2. Push your code changes

   In your terminal window, run the following command to push the changes to GitHub:

   git add .
   git commit -m 'changes for amplify'
   git push origin main
   

   

3. Update your deployed application

   AWS Amplify will now build your source code and deploy your app.

   

4. View your updated application

   Navigate back to the Amplify console, and select the Visit deployed URL button to view your updated app.

   

Conclusion

You have deployed a React application in the AWS Cloud by integrating with GitHub and using AWS Amplify. With AWS Amplify, you can continuously deploy your application in the Cloud and host it on a globally available CDN.