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AWS announces AWS Blocks, an open-source framework for composing application backends on AWS (Preview)

AWS announces AWS Blocks, an open-source framework for composing application backends on AWS (Preview)

Tech cloudbackendtypescriptaws AWS
AWS is introducing AWS Blocks, a TypeScript framework that lets developers build backends locally and deploy to production without manual infrastructure configuration.
What: AWS Blocks is a new open-source framework currently in preview that provides a local environment with Postgres, auth, and real-time messaging, deploying to production AWS resources without extra infrastructure code.
Why it matters: This signals a strategic move by AWS to lower the entry barrier for application developers who are increasingly opting for simplified developer experience platforms like Convex or Supabase over native AWS tooling.
Takeaway: Run 'npx @aws-blocks/create-blocks-app' to test the local backend experience and compare it against your existing CDK or Terraform setup.
Deep dive
  • Provides local emulation of AWS backend services.
  • Uses TypeScript for both application logic and schema definition.
  • Ensures end-to-end type safety without external code generation.
  • Supports Vite, React, Next.js, Nuxt, and Astro.
  • Allows developers to escape to AWS CDK for advanced resource customization.
  • Eliminates the requirement of an AWS account for local development.
Decoder
  • AWS CDK: Cloud Development Kit, a framework for defining infrastructure as code using familiar programming languages like TypeScript or Python.
Original article

AWS announces AWS Blocks, an open-source framework for composing application backends on AWS (Preview)

Today, AWS announces the public preview of AWS Blocks, an open-source TypeScript framework for application developers who want backend capabilities on AWS removing the need to learn infrastructure tools. AWS Blocks runs a fully functional local environment with Postgres, authentication, and real-time messaging, no AWS account required. When ready to deploy, the same application code runs on production AWS services with zero changes, and developers can drop into AWS CDK at any point for direct resource configuration.

A developer building a SaaS application can add database tables, user authentication, AI agents, file uploads, and background jobs in a single session, test the full stack locally, and deploy to AWS when ready. Built-in guidance for AI coding tools enables correct architecture without custom configuration, and end-to-end type safety flows from the data schema to the frontend without a code generation step. At preview, supported frontend frameworks include SPAs (e.g. Vite + React) and SSR frameworks such as Next.js, Nuxt, and Astro. AWS Blocks is available at no additional charge. You pay only for the AWS services your application uses.

AWS Blocks deploys to all commercial AWS regions.

To get started, run npx @aws-blocks/create-blocks-app. Read more here:

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