Hey everyone, I've been struggling to set up a React app on AWS with authentication using Cognito, and it's driving me a bit insane. Despite making some progress, I keep hitting dead ends. The Cognito quick start was pretty challenging for me, and while I got authentication mostly working, I'm stuck on sending parameters from the Cognito redirect URI. The documentation has so many typos that it's just adding to my frustration.
I'm puzzled about why the API Gateway doesn't clearly outline what the expected incoming JSON format should be. Figuring out the authorization header feels like a guessing game. Honestly, reading the docs is like deciphering Shakespeare. Has anyone thought about how people would read this stuff in 2025?
I also checked out the Amplify Quickstart guide, but it's not working for me either. Why suggest a repository setup that won't deploy on Amplify? It feels like I'm facing endless issues with redirects, unsupported Node versions, and vague log messages. How do I even start learning this without losing my mind? Please don't just tell me to read the documentation – it's clearly not doing the job!
5 Answers
AWS's app tools generally leave a lot to be desired. The closer you get to the basics, the better off you are. Don't get lost in the shiny features; simplicity works!
Oh man, I totally get where you're coming from! The AWS docs can feel like a trip down a rabbit hole. I’ve had some nostalgic moments reading your rant because I struggled so much too. Honestly, it took me ages to grind through topics before I could finally make any sense of it all. Just hang in there; you're definitely not alone in this!
I found ChatGPT pretty handy during my setup. I wouldn't say I learned everything, but it helped me get the necessary commands for authentication without relying too much on the docs. Just keep it focused on the commands you need, not asking it to build your entire app. I used basic username and verified email setups with Cognito, no Amplify involved.
AI helped me with a CloudFormation script that seemed perfect, though it didn’t quite build my app like I expected. Still, it’s great for getting guidance!
I totally sympathize with your struggle. I’d like to share some resources that have helped me. I can send you a link to scaletozeroaws.com's gold edition for some additional insights. Just give me a shout!
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend Amplify for production. If you're looking for a solid auth solution, get comfortable with cookies and OIDC. It’s just more straightforward and cloud-agnostic.
I've been there too. Built enterprise apps using Cognito but wouldn’t touch it again. Going with a bare metal approach is actually not that daunting, especially with tools like LLMs to help you set up!
Exactly! Why do they throw you back to unrelated topics when you're just trying to solve a specific issue? It's like a maze!