ajcwebdev

begin quickstart with http functions

beginserverlessawslambda

Begin is a platform for building modern web apps, sites, & APIs. It leverages globally available serverless infrastructure, SSD-backed databases, CDNs, and GitHub powered continuous integration. It is scientifically proven to be "ridiculously quick."

Prerequisites

Creating and deploying an app

Login to your Begin account and click the "Create new app" button. You will first choose either a Node.js or Deno runtime.

01-begin-new-app-selector

By default you will see a list of Node.js framework-specific starter apps. Scroll down to see a list of additional example apps.

02-example-apps

Select an app from the list of starters. You will then be asked to give your project a name.

03-create-hello-world-app

Click "Create Hello World app" to spin up a new project under github.com/{your GH username}/{your repo name}.

04-begin-activity

After Begin sets up your repo it will kick off its first deploy to your staging environment.

05-verify-install

By default, each commit to main initiates a build.

06-built-and-deployed

If the build is green that build is immediately deployed to your app's staging environment. To access your staging environment, click the Staging link in the build status module.

07-staging

Click Production to see your production environment.

08-production

Project structure

Begin applications are comprised of many small, individually executing cloud functions.

.
├── .gitignore
├── LICENSE
├── index.js
├── package.json
└── readme.md

If you try to create your application as a single, giant, monolithic Lambda function then Brian LeRoux will personally come to your house, slap you in the face, and kick your dog.

package.json

Begin example apps written for the node.js runtime use JSON added to the apps package.json file.

"name": "begin-app",
"version": "0.0.0",
"description": "Begin basic Hello World! app for Node",
"arc": {
  "app": "hello-world",
  "http": [
    {
      "/": {
        "method": "any",
        "src": "."
      }
    }
  ]
},

Start script 

"scripts": {
  "start": "cross-env NODE_ENV=testing npx sandbox"
},

Development dependencies 

"devDependencies": {
  "@architect/functions": "latest",
  "@architect/sandbox": "^3.3.6",
  "@begin/data": "latest",
  "cross-env": "^7.0.3"
}

index.js

Function directories must contain an index.js file that services the cloud function handler and any dependencies required for it to operate.

HTTP Functions

Each HTTP Function directory services a handler for a publicly available HTTP route.

exports.handler = async function http(req) {
  let html = `
    <!doctype html>
    <html lang=en>
      <head>
        <meta charset=utf-8>
        <title>This is a title</title>
        <link
          rel="stylesheet"
          href="https://static.begin.app/starter/default.css"
        >
        <link
          href="data:image/x-icon;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" 
          rel="icon"
          type="image/x-icon"
        >
      </head>
      <body>
        <h1 class="center-text">
          I hath been shipped
        </h1>

        <p class="center-text">
          Nailed it
        </p>
      </body>
    </html>
  `

  return {
    headers: {
      'content-type': 'text/html; charset=utf8',
      'cache-control': 'no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate, max-age=0, s-maxage=0'
    },
    statusCode: 200,
    body: html
  }
}

To deploy your changes, click "Deploy to Production"

09-deploy-to-production

Click Ship it to ship that sucker.

10-i-hath-been-shipped

You can see this thoroughly shipped site at the following link.