Load and modify the Application Composer demo project - AWS Application Composer
Step 1: Open the demoStep 2: Explore the visual canvasStep 3: Expand your architectureStep 4: Save your applicationNext steps

Load and modify the Application Composer demo project

Use this tutorial to become familier with Application Composer's user interface and learn how to load, modify, and save the Application Composer demo project.

This tutorial is done in the Application Composer console. Once completed, you'll be ready to start Build your first application with Application Composer.

Step 1: Open the demo

Start using Application Composer by creating a demo project.

To create a demo project

  1. Sign in to the Application Composer console.

  2. On the Home page, choose Open demo.

The demo application is a basic create, read, delete, and update (CRUD) serverless application that includes:

  • An Amazon API Gateway resource with five routes.

  • Five AWS Lambda functions.

  • An Amazon DynamoDB table.

The following image is of the demo:

The Application Composer visual canvas, showing a basic CRUD serverless application.

Step 2: Explore the visual canvas of Application Composer

Learn the features of the visual canvas to build out your Application Composer demo project. For an overview of the visual canvas layout, see Visual overview.

To explore the features of the visual canvas

  1. When you open a new or existing application project, Application Composer loads the canvas view, as indicated above the main view area.

    The Canvas and Template view buttons at the top of the Application Composer main view area.

    To show your application's infrastructure code in the main view area, choose Template. For example, here is the AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) template view of the Application Composer demo project.

    Screenshot of Application Composer template view showing the demo project's template code.

  2. To show the canvas view of your application again, choose Canvas.

  3. To show your application's resources organized in a tree view, choose List.

    On the Application Composer visual canvas, the List tab is selected and shows a tree view of your application.

  4. To show the resource palette, choose Resources. This palette features cards that you can use to expand your application architecture. You can search for cards or scroll through the list.

    The resource palette is selected and shows featured resources that you can use in your application architecture.

  5. To move around the visual canvas, use basic gestures. For more information, see Place cards on the canvas.

Step 3: Expand your application architecture

In this step, you will expand your application architecture by adding a Lambda function to your DynamoDB table.

To add a Lambda function to your DynamoDB table

  1. From the resource palette (Resources), drag the Lambda Function enhanced component card onto the canvas, to the right of the DynamoDB Table card.

    The demo is in canvas view with a Lambda function next to the DynamoDB table.

  2. Connect the DynamoDB table to the Lambda function. To connect them, click the right port of the DynamoDB Table card and drag it onto the left port of the Lambda Function card.

  3. Choose Arrange to organize the cards in the canvas view.

    The demo is in canvas view with a Lambda function connected to the DynamoDB table.

  4. Configure your Lambda function. To configure it, do either of the following:

    • In the canvas view, modify the function's properties on the Resource properties panel. To open the panel, double-click the Lambda Function card. Or, select the card, and then choose Details. For more information about the configurable Lambda function properties listed in the Resource properties panel, see the AWS Lambda Developer Guide.

    • In the template view, modify the code for your function (AWS::Serverless::Function). Application Composer automatically syncs your changes to the canvas. For more information about the function resource in an AWS SAM template, see AWS::Serverless::Function in the AWS SAM resource and property reference.

Step 4: Save your application

Save your application by manually saving your application template to your local machine or by activating local sync.

To manually save your application template

  1. From the menu, select Save > Save template file.

  2. Provide a name for your template and choose a location on your local machine to save your template. Press Save.

For instructions on activating local sync, see Locally sync and save your project in the Application Composer console.

Next steps

To get started with building your first application, see Build your first application with Application Composer.