Access
Every interaction with AWS is, underneath, an API call. The console, CLI, SDKs and IaC are different ways of making those calls.
A web interface to manage most AWS services, also available as a mobile app.
Key points
- Ideal for one-off tasks, exploration and learning.
- Shows metrics, alarms and billing in one place.
- The AWS Console Mobile App lets you check resources and alarms from your phone.
On the exam
A one-time, visual operation points to the console. For something repeatable, the answer is the CLI, an SDK or IaC.
CLI
Command Line Interface
A command line tool to control AWS services and automate tasks with scripts.
Key points
- The same functionality as the APIs, from the terminal.
- Lets you automate repetitive tasks in scripts.
- Authenticates with IAM credentials (preferably temporary ones).
On the exam
"Automate tasks with scripts in the terminal" is the AWS CLI.
SDKs
Software Development Kits
Libraries to call AWS services from application code.
Key points
- Available for Java, Python, JavaScript, .NET, Go, PHP, Ruby and other languages.
- They handle authentication, retries and serialization of the calls.
- Used when the application itself needs to interact with AWS.
On the exam
"The application needs to write files to S3 from its code": SDK.
CloudShell
AWS CloudShell
A browser-based terminal opened from the console, already authenticated and with the CLI installed.
Key points
- Nothing to install on your local machine.
- Uses the permissions of whoever is signed in to the console.
- Includes persistent storage per Region.
On the exam
"Run CLI commands without installing anything locally": CloudShell.
Describing infrastructure in versioned files to create it repeatably, with AWS CloudFormation or the AWS CDK.
Key points
- CloudFormation: JSON or YAML templates that become stacks.
- AWS CDK: defines infrastructure in programming languages and generates CloudFormation.
- Identical environments, reviewed changes and fewer manual errors.
On the exam
Repeatable processes and identical environments (dev, staging, production) point to IaC.