AWS is the Rube Goldberg of web development
At least, it sure seems that way
My task seemed simple
- Publish my web app on the internet
One way to accomplish this is by using Amazon Web Services.
So I created a free account.
I logged in to my console.
I tried repeatedly with no success to access one of the beginner tutorials.
After waiting nearly 48 hours, I realized I hadn’t fully validated my account.
I followed the first tutorial: launch virtual machine.
Several steps. Many choices. Tons of jargon.
But within a few minutes, I was successful in launching a virtual machine.
I followed the second tutorial: build a web app.
Fairly straightforward. A few steps and button clicks. Even more jargon.
But within a few minutes, I was successful in creating a web app.
I tried connecting to that web app via any means possible.
Security credentials. Root vs. IAM users. Access IDs. Secret keys.
Names for each of its jargon-laden micro-services littered throughout each workflow.
Command line tools like eb and awscli.
Errors in my terminal when installing.
Scavenging online forums to help me troubleshoot.
Ugh.
AWS is wonderful when in ‘wizard’-mode…
Guiding you through workflows to setup something that you otherwise would need a full-stack engineer and web master to accomplish.
AWS is terrible when in ‘do-it-yourself’-mode…
Expecting you to navigate its inner world-wide-web of documentation.
