Learn AWS-CDK with Real Code Examples

CDK allows defining AWS infrastructure as constructs, which are reusable, composable building blocks.

It supports multiple languages through language-specific bindings (JSII).

CDK synthesizes code into AWS CloudFormation templates for deployment.

Enables best practices like IAM policies, networking, and resource configuration via code.

Facilitates repeatable, version-controlled, and testable cloud infrastructure.

Constructs - reusable building blocks

Stacks - deployable CloudFormation units

Apps - collections of stacks

Context-aware configuration

Cross-stack references and dependencies

App - top-level CDK application

Stack - unit of deployment

Construct - building block for AWS resources

Environment - AWS account and region

Context - configuration values for stacks

cdk.json - project configuration

bin/ - entry-point app

lib/ - stacks and constructs

package.json / requirements.txt - dependencies

cdk.context.json - cached context data

Create a new CDK project using CLI

Write constructs for required AWS resources

Add stacks and instantiate constructs

Synthesize the project into CloudFormation templates

Deploy stacks to AWS using CDK CLI

Beginner: Deploy a single S3 bucket

Intermediate: Multi-stack VPC + RDS deployment

Advanced: Complex multi-environment pipelines

Expert: Custom L1/L2/L3 constructs for reusable infra

Architect: Enterprise-wide CDK construct libraries

CDK vs CloudFormation: CDK provides code abstraction and reusable constructs

CDK vs Terraform: CDK is AWS-native, Terraform is multi-cloud

CDK vs Serverless Framework: CDK supports full AWS stack, Serverless is function-focused

CDK vs Pulumi: Pulumi supports multi-cloud, CDK is tightly integrated with AWS

CDK vs manual console: CDK is repeatable, version-controlled, and testable

CDK v0.x (2018) - initial developer preview

CDK v1 (2019) - stable multi-language support

CDK v1.x - additions for new AWS services

CDK v2 (2021) - single package for all AWS constructs

2024–2025 - continuous updates for new AWS services

App - top-level CDK application

Stack - deployable CloudFormation unit

Construct - building block of infrastructure

Context - environment/configuration values

JSII - multi-language binding framework