Multiple Development Environments by using AWS Cloud9

Introduction to AWS Cloud9

Cloud9 is a cloud-based integrated development environment (IDE) that lets us write, run, and debug the code from any system with just a browser. The Cloud9 IDE provides the software and tooling needed for dynamic programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP, Go, and C++. This means we no longer have to spend time configuring or installing programs on your development machine. We get full sudo privileges and a pre-authenticated AWS CLI when we run our Cloud9 development environment on a managed EC2 instance. Cloud9 also integrates with AWS CodeStar, providing us with the tools we need to successfully deploy applications to AWS.

How does AWS Cloud9 work?

Use the AWS Cloud9 IDE, running in a web browser on the local system, to interact with the AWS Cloud9 environment. An AWS computing resource (for example, an Amazon EC2 instance or any server) connects to that environment. Finally, work is stored in the CodeCommit repository or another type of remote repository.

Cloud9 + Your System<–>Your Server/EC2 + Cloud9 Environment<–>CodeCommit/Other Remote Repository

AWS Cloud9 Environments

Cloud9 environment is a place where we can store our project’s files and run the tools to develop our applications.

Using the AWS Cloud9 IDE, we can:

• Store our project’s files locally on the server or instance.
• Clone a remote code repository – such as a repo in CodeCommit into our environment.
• Work with a combination of cloned files and local files in the environment.

We can create and switch between multiple environments, with each one set up for a specific development project. By storing the environment in the cloud, our projects no longer need to be tied to a single computer or server setup. This enables us to do things such as easy switching between computers and more quickly onboard developers to the team.

Environments and Computing Resources

There are different ways to connect our environments to computing resources:

• We can instruct AWS Cloud9 to create an Amazon EC2 instance, and then connect the environment to that newly created EC2 instance. This setup is called an EC2 environment.
• You can instruct AWS Cloud9 to connect an environment to your server or an existing cloud compute instance. This setup is called an SSH environment.

EC2 environments and SSH environments have some differences and some similarities.

Why AWS Cloud9?

With the help of AWS Cloud9, we can code, build, run, test, debug, and release software in many exciting scenarios and variations.

• The AWS Cloud and working with code in several programming languages.
• Using online code repositories.
• Collaborating with others in real-time.
• Development Kit – AWS CDK.
• Working with the code in a running Docker container.
• Interacting with various database and website technologies.
• Targeting services like AWS Serverless Applications, Amazon API Gateway, and AWS Lambda
• Taking advantage of other AWS products such as AWS CodeStar, AWS CodePipeline, and Amazon Lightsail.

Benefits of Cloud9

• Code with just a browser – No need to install or maintain a local IDE
• Code together in real time – Share the development environment with the team
• Build Serverless Applications with ease as makes it easy to write, run, and debug the same.
• Direct Terminal access to AWS – comes with a terminal that includes sudo privilege and pre-authenticated AWS Command Line Interface.

Features of Cloud9

• Fully-featured Editor
• Broad Selection of Run Configuration
• Integrated Debugger
• Integrated Tools for Serverless Development
• Connectivity to any Linux Server Platform
• Collaborative Editing and Chat
• Continuous Delivery Chain
• File Revision History

Steps to Create an EC2 Environment using AWS Cloud9

Step 1: Search for Cloud9 in the service list and once it opens then click on Create Environment

Step 2: Enter the name of the Environment and select its type, EC2, and Platform based on your requirement and then Click on Create.

Step 3: After successful creation, we can see the Environment and Instance as shown below.

EC2 instance which is created from Cloud9 Environment

Conclusion

Using AWS Cloud9 we need not have to go through the painful process of installing plugins, SDKs, libraries, etc every time we want to start a new project which is based on a different language or platform than the previous ones. Being cloud-based, Cloud9 maintains multiple development environments easily so that we can isolate our project’s resources.

About CloudThat

CloudThat is also the official AWS (Amazon Web Services) Advanced Consulting Partner and Training partner and Microsoft gold partner, helping people develop knowledge of the cloud and help their businesses aim for higher goals using best in industry cloud computing practices and expertise. We are on a mission to build a robust cloud computing ecosystem by disseminating knowledge on technological intricacies within the cloud space. Our blogs, webinars, case studies, and white papers enable all the stakeholders in the cloud computing sphere.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding AWS Cloud9 and I will get back to you quickly.

To get started, go through our Consultancy page and Managed Services Package that is CloudThat’s offerings.