AWS Lambda is a computational service that allows you to run code without the need to provision or manage servers. It runs code only when needed and automatically scales from a few requests per day to thousands per second. In this section, we will learn how to configure AWS Lambda by creating a Lambda function.
A Lambda function is a custom software unit that AWS Lambda executes in response to triggered events. The function is made up of its code and any associated dependencies. It's important to note that the code you run in AWS Lambda is called a "Lambda function."
Step 1: Access the AWS Management Console
To get started, you need to go to the AWS Management Console and open the AWS Lambda console.
Step 2: Create a new Lambda function
In the AWS Lambda console, click "Create function". This will take you to a new page where you can configure your role.
Step 3: Name and configure your role
First, you need to give your function a name. This name must be unique to your account in the AWS region you are using. Next, you need to choose the programming language you will use to write your function. In this case, we will choose Python.
Step 4: Set permissions for your role
Next, you need to set the permissions for your role. This is done through an execution policy, which is an IAM policy that gives your role permission to access AWS resources. You can choose an existing policy or create a new one.
Step 5: Create your function
After setting the permissions, you can click "Create role". This will take you to a new page where you can start writing your code.
Step 6: Write your code
On the function creation page, you will see a code editor where you can write your code. This code will be the logic of your function. You can write the code directly in the editor, or you can upload a .zip file containing your code and any necessary dependencies.
Step 7: Test your function
After writing your code, you can test your function. To do this, click "Configure Test Events" at the top of the page. Here, you can define the input parameters for your function and then click "Test" to run your function with those parameters.
Step 8: Analyze the results
After testing your function, you can analyze the results. The AWS Lambda console will show the results of running your function, including any log messages and the execution duration.
Step 9: Publish your role
Finally, after testing and analyzing the results, you can publish your function. This will make your function available to be triggered by events. To publish your function, click on "Actions" and then "Publish new version".
In summary, creating a Lambda function in AWS Lambda involves naming and configuring your function, setting permissions, writing your code, testing your function, analyzing the results, and finally publishing your function. This is a powerful and flexible way to run your code in the cloud without having to manage servers.
In the next section, we'll learn about API Gateway and how it can be used in conjunction with AWS Lambda to build powerful, scalable backend applications.
