AWS Cloud Fundamentals: Build a Serverless Notes App
Go from zero cloud experience to shipping a real serverless app on AWS. You'll host a frontend on S3, write backend logic with Lambda, store data in DynamoDB, and wire it all together — learning by building, not by reading slides.
Build it yourself, get guided when you are stuck, and leave with proof you can actually show.
What you learn by building this
- Host a static website on AWS S3 with public access
- Write and deploy serverless functions using AWS Lambda and Node.js
- Expose Lambda functions as HTTP endpoints via API Gateway
- Store and retrieve data from DynamoDB using the AWS SDK
- Configure IAM roles to grant least-privilege permissions
- Connect a frontend to a serverless backend end-to-end
Challenge
Think first, then write
Before you touch AWS, here's a question to get you thinking:
You built a React app on your laptop. Your friend in Vietnam wants to use it. What would it take to make that happen?
Jot down your answer — even a rough guess. There's no wrong answer here.
Most people end up at the same wall: someone's computer needs to be on 24/7, connected to the internet, with a public address, running your code. That's what a cloud provider like AWS gives you — except instead of a physical computer in your dorm room, it's their data center. You pay for what you use, and it's always on.
That's the core idea. Everything else is details.
Tasks
Set Up Your AWS Account
AWS has a Free Tier — a set of services you can use for free for 12 months (plus some that are always free). Everything in this course stays within the Free Tier.
Step 1 — Create your account
- Go to aws.amazon.com and click Create an AWS Account.
- Use a personal email address (not a school one that might expire).
- Choose Personal account type.
- Enter billing info — a credit card is required, but you will NOT be charged as long as you stay within Free Tier limits. Leo will flag every time we approach a paid service.
- Choose the Basic support plan (free).
Checkpoint: You should see the AWS Management Console — a dashboard with a search bar at the top and a grid of services. If you see this, you're in.
Step 2 — Secure your account with MFA
MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) adds a second check when you log in — like a code from your phone. AWS accounts that skip MFA get compromised. Don't skip this.
- Click your account name (top-right corner) → Security credentials.
- Scroll to Multi-factor authentication (MFA) → click Assign MFA device.
- Choose Authenticator app → follow the steps to scan the QR code with an app like Google Authenticator or Authy.
- Enter two consecutive codes to confirm it's working.
Checkpoint: You should see your MFA device listed as Active in the MFA section.
Predict
What will happen?
Before You Click Around — Make a Prediction
The AWS Console has over 200 services. Look at this short list and guess: which category does each one belong to?
| Service | Your guess |
|---|---|
| EC2 | ??? |
| S3 | ??? |
| Lambda | ??? |
| DynamoDB | ??? |
| IAM | ??? |
Options: Storage / Compute (run code) / Database / Security & Permissions
Write down your guesses, then keep going to find out.
Tasks
Navigate the Console
Now go explore. Here's a scavenger hunt — find each service using the search bar at the top of the console.
Find these 5 services and read the first sentence on each service's landing page:
- S3 — the storage service you'll use today
- EC2 — virtual servers in the cloud
- Lambda — run code without managing servers (you'll use this in Module 2)
- DynamoDB — a database (Module 3)
- IAM — Identity and Access Management, controls who can do what
To find a service: click the search bar (or press /), type the name, and click the result.
Checkpoint: You can navigate to each service's page. The URL should change each time — for example, S3's page starts with
https://s3.console.aws.amazon.com/...
One more thing — set your region.
Notice the dropdown near the top-right that probably says something like N. Virginia or Oregon. That's your AWS region — the physical data center location where your stuff lives.
Set it to US East (N. Virginia) — us-east-1. We'll use this for the whole course so your services are in the same place.
Checkpoint: The region dropdown shows N. Virginia.
Knowledge check
What does MFA stand for, and why does AWS recommend it?
How this build unfolds
Cloud Foundations & S3
Serverless Logic with Lambda
Storing Data with DynamoDB
Wiring It All Together
Learn by building your own version.
Remix this public project to open the workspace, follow the guided build, and let the AI mentor teach you through the work instead of doing it for you.