Building a Full-Stack Application with AWS Amplify and ReactJS
Tags: aws, react, webdev, programming
Published: 2024-03-24 22:30:02

## Introduction
AWS Amplify is a powerful development platform that enables developers to build scalable full-stack applications. This guide will walk you through creating a ReactJS application with a backend powered by AWS Amplify.

## Prerequisites
- Node.js v10.x or later
- npm or yarn
- AWS Account

## Install the Amplify CLI
The Amplify Command Line Interface (CLI) is a unified toolchain to create AWS cloud services for your app. Let's go ahead and install the Amplify CLI.
`npm install -g @aws-amplify/cli`

## Initializing the Project
Create a new React application and initialize your Amplify project:

```
npx create-react-app amplify-react-app
cd amplify-react-app
npm install -g @aws-amplify/cli
amplify configure
```
amplify configure will prompt you to sign in and add IAM user.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/rqc9mvlifx06b6e6nsto.png)
Enter your desired username and press Next.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/wig24md09cu37hz4l0oa.png)
Select Attach policies directly and select AdministratorAccess-Amplify as the Permissions policy. Select Next

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8glyevv9wu9aebw0xpbw.png)
This is the review page. Check if everything is alright and create user.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/uqcxgetga94pewnrore1.png)
Navigate to the just created user and click on the '**create access key button**'.We'll need the key in the projects' terminal.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kjmqo4zkz2e88d9epdr8.png)
Select the first option,Click Next.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/bj7x4ncwfbricv75z3mb.png)
There we go! Use the copy icon to copy these values to your clipboard, then return to the Amplify CLI.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4yijya8x97drl1n372jl.png)




## Setting Up Authentication
Set up authentication using Amazon Cognito:

```
amplify add auth
# When prompted, select the default configuration
amplify push
```

## Adding a GraphQL API and Database
Add a GraphQL API and database using AWS AppSync and Amazon DynamoDB:

```
amplify add api
# Select GraphQL, provide an API name, and choose an authorization type
amplify push

```

## Implementing the Frontend
Install necessary packages and configure the frontend to interact with the backend services:

```
//index.js
import Amplify from 'aws-amplify';
import awsExports from './aws-exports';
Amplify.configure(awsExports);

```

## Interacting with the API
Use the Amplify library to interact with the GraphQL API:

```
import { API, graphqlOperation } from 'aws-amplify';
import { listNotes } from './graphql/queries';

async function fetchNotes() {
  try {
    const noteData = await API.graphql(graphqlOperation(listNotes));
    console.log('notes:', noteData);
  } catch (err) {
    console.log('error fetching notes', err);
  }
}

```

## Deploying the Application
Deploy your application using the Amplify Console:

```
amplify add hosting
# Select a hosting service and follow the prompts
amplify publish

```

## Conclusion
You’ve now successfully set up a full-stack application with AWS Amplify and ReactJS. This application includes user authentication and a serverless backend with a GraphQL API.