A First Look at Architect

Architect is an Infrastructure as Code framework for provisioning build artifacts. It provides a compact syntax that compiles down to CloudFormation.

Outline

Introduction
Setup
Project Structure
Deploy to AWS
- Deploy to Staging Environment
- Deploy to Production Environment
Discover Related Articles

All of this project’s code can be found in the First Look monorepo on my GitHub.

Introduction

Architect is an Infrastructure as Code framework for provisioning build artifacts. Architect defines a high level manifest file in multiple open text formats which can be checked into version control. It compiles the manifest code into AWS CloudFormation and then deploys that stack. Supported formats include:

a native text file format app.arc
package.json
arc.json
arc.yaml
arc.toml

Setup

Install Architect CLI and AWS SDK

npm i -g @architect/architect aws-sdk

Check arc version.

arc version

Output:

      Version: Architect 8.5.11
 Installed to: /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@architect/architect
          cwd: /Users/ajcwebdev

Initialize Project

Create a project directory and initialize a project with arc init.

mkdir ajcwebdev-architect
cd ajcwebdev-architect
arc init

Output:

     Version ⌁ Architect 8.5.11
         cwd ⌁ /Users/ajcwebdev/ajcwebdev-architect

✓ Create Created Architect project manifest (app.arc)
✓ Create Created new project files in src/http/get-index/
⚬ Create Installing Architect...

added 264 packages, and audited 265 packages in 16s

25 packages are looking for funding
  run `npm fund` for details

found 0 vulnerabilities

✓ Create Your Architect project is ready! Get started with: npx arc sandbox

Running arc init in an empty directory creates a default app.arc manifest file named after that directory with one default function src/http/get-index.

Start Development Server

Architect projects work locally and offline. arc sandbox emulates most app resources defined in app.arc:

arc sandbox

         App ⌁ ajcwebdev-architect
      Region ⌁ us-west-2
     Profile ⌁ default
     Version ⌁ Architect 8.5.11
         cwd ⌁ /Users/ajcwebdev/ajcwebdev-architect

✓ Sandbox Found Architect project manifest: app.arc
✓ Sandbox No testing environment variables found
✓ Sandbox Project files hydrated into functions
✓ Sandbox Loaded routes (HTTP API mode / Lambda proxy v2.0 format)
    get / ................................. src/http/get-index

    http://localhost:3333

✓ Sandbox Started in 8ms
❤︎ Local environment ready!

01 - arc-hello-world-nodejs-localhost

Project Structure

├── src
│   └── http
│       └── get-index
│           ├── config.arc
│           └── index.js
├── app.arc
├── package-lock.json
└── package.json

package.json contains a single start script and the Architect development dependency.

{
  "name": "ajcwebdev-architect",
  "version": "0.0.0",
  "description": "A fresh new Architect project!",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "npx sandbox"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@architect/architect": "^8.5.11"
  }
}

Arc App Entry Point

@app declares the application namespace in app.arc. @http defines HTTP routes in API Gateway with Lambda handler functions.

@app
ajcwebdev-architect

@http
get /

Arc Configuration

@aws defines AWS specific configuration in config.arc.

@aws
runtime nodejs12.x

Lambda Handler

index.js contains a Lambda function that returns HTML in the body.

exports.handler = async function http (req) {
  return {
    statusCode: 200,
    headers: {
      'cache-control': 'no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate, max-age=0, s-maxage=0',
      'content-type': 'text/html; charset=utf8'
    },
    body: `
      <!DOCTYPE html>
      <html lang="en">
        <head>
          <meta charset="UTF-8">
          <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

          <title>Architect</title>

          <style>
            * {
              margin: 0;
              padding: 0;
              box-sizing: border-box;
            }
            body {
              font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif;
            }
            .max-width-320 {
              max-width: 20rem;
            }
            .margin-left-8 {
              margin-left: 0.5rem;
            }
            .margin-bottom-16 {
              margin-bottom: 1rem;
            }
            .margin-bottom-8 {
              margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
            }
            .padding-32 {
              padding: 2rem;
            }
            .color-grey {
              color: #333;
            }
            .color-black-link:hover {
              color: black;
            }
          </style>
        </head>

        <body class="padding-32">
          <div class="max-width-320">
            <svg
              xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
              viewBox="0 0 267.07 50.23"
              class="margin-bottom-16"
            >
              <g fill="#000000"><path d="M91.68 41.88L77.47 8.59c-.21-.66-1.06-1.01-1.73-1.01h-.44c-.68 0-1.5.46-1.77 1.08l-14.3 33.27c-.03.07-.05.15-.05.24 0 .32.27.58.59.58h3.97c.3 0 .59-.31.69-.52.03-.07 2.77-6.72 2.77-6.72h16.54l2.77 6.84s.21.6.86.6h3.59c.43 0 .79-.35.79-.78-.01-.11-.07-.29-.07-.29zM68.91 31.15l6.56-15.75 6.51 15.75zM158.14 30.27c0-6.31-4.06-10.47-9.98-10.47-3.38 0-5.82 1.42-7.24 3.28V8.34h-.01a.55.55 0 0 0-.55-.52h-3.73c-.3 0-.55.24-.55.54v33.85c0 .29.24.53.53.53h3.84c.29 0 .53-.24.53-.53v-11.7c.05-3.08 2.2-6.31 6.26-6.31 3.57 0 6.02 2.69 6.02 6.75v11.26c0 .29.24.53.53.53h3.84c.29 0 .53-.24.53-.53zM167 9.33c-1.91.05-3.42 1.32-3.42 3.28s1.52 3.33 3.42 3.33c1.96 0 3.47-1.37 3.47-3.33s-1.52-3.33-3.47-3.28zM217.73 31.15c0-.12 0-.25-.01-.36v-.04c0-.09 0-.18-.01-.27 0-.05-.01-.09-.01-.14-.03-.37-.06-.71-.08-.88-.73-5.75-4.84-9.64-10.69-9.64-6.8 0-11.55 5.09-11.55 11.69 0 6.7 5.14 11.69 12.13 11.69 4.4 0 7.03-1.43 8.64-2.69 0 0 .36-.25.14-.66l-1.62-2.71c-.14-.22-.55-.24-.82-.02-1.24.92-2.97 1.97-5.81 1.97-4.21 0-7.24-2.59-7.88-6.16h17.17c.26 0 .37-.22.37-.48 0 0 .02-.56.02-1.11v-.03c.01-.06.01-.11.01-.16zm-17.51-1.71c.73-3.52 3.33-5.67 6.85-5.67 3.23 0 5.77 2.25 6.02 5.67zM108.97 19.88s-.89-.07-1.36-.07c-4.01 0-6.7 2.2-7.63 4.84l-.17-3.89a.574.574 0 0 0-.57-.51h-3.06a.56.56 0 0 0-.56.56V42.2c0 .3.25.55.55.55h3.78c.3 0 .55-.24.56-.54V30.77c.05-3.18 2.2-6.31 6.41-6.31.66 0 1.65.17 1.65.17.3.04.53-.14.55-.4l.31-3.84c.02-.27-.2-.49-.46-.51zM128.84 37.37c.2-.11.43-.03.53.16l1.64 2.99c.1.19.03.4-.16.52l-.02.01c-1.54.95-3.71 2.13-7.52 2.13-7.24 0-12.23-5.09-12.23-11.64 0-6.65 5.33-11.74 12.23-11.74 3.85 0 6.16 1.18 7.68 2.24.07.05.28.23.11.52l-1.72 2.96c-.11.19-.34.24-.53.13l-.04-.03c-1.19-.74-2.8-1.37-4.96-1.37-4.65 0-7.78 3.08-7.78 7.29 0 4.11 3.13 7.19 7.58 7.19 2.39 0 3.94-.64 5.16-1.35zM168.97 20.24h-3.79c-.29 0-.53.24-.53.53l-.05 21.45c0 .29.24.53.53.53h3.83c.29 0 .53-.24.53-.53V20.77c0-.29-.23-.53-.52-.53zM192.03 37.81c-.06-.12-.45-.13-.88.11-.85.44-1.81.91-3.51.91-2.79 0-4.5-1.22-4.5-4.21V24.3h8.38c.29 0 .53-.24.53-.53v-3c0-.29-.24-.53-.53-.53h-8.38v-7.2c0-.29-.24-.53-.53-.53h-3.69c-.29 0-.53.24-.53.53v7.2h-4.17c-.29 0-.53.24-.53.53v3c0 .29.24.53.53.53h4.07v10.62c0 5.33 3.38 8.27 8.37 8.27 3.54 0 5.59-1.22 6.56-1.91.17-.19.27-.38.17-.59zM238.61 37.45c.2-.11.43-.03.53.16l1.64 2.99c.1.19.03.4-.16.52l-.02.01c-1.54.95-3.71 2.13-7.52 2.13-7.24 0-12.23-5.09-12.23-11.64 0-6.65 5.33-11.74 12.23-11.74 3.85 0 6.16 1.18 7.68 2.24.07.05.28.23.11.52l-1.72 2.96c-.11.19-.34.24-.53.13l-.04-.03c-1.19-.74-2.8-1.37-4.96-1.37-4.65 0-7.78 3.08-7.78 7.29 0 4.11 3.13 7.19 7.58 7.19 2.39 0 3.94-.64 5.16-1.35zM262.91 37.92c-.06-.12-.45-.13-.88.11-.85.44-1.81.91-3.51.91-2.79 0-4.5-1.22-4.5-4.21V24.41h8.38c.29 0 .53-.24.53-.53v-3c0-.29-.24-.53-.53-.53h-8.38v-7.2c0-.29-.24-.53-.53-.53h-3.69c-.29 0-.53.24-.53.53v7.2h-4.17c-.29 0-.53.24-.53.53v3c0 .29.24.53.53.53h4.07v10.62c0 5.33 3.38 8.27 8.37 8.27 3.54 0 5.59-1.22 6.56-1.91.17-.19.27-.38.17-.59zM27.7 1.44c-13.03 0-23.63 10.6-23.63 23.63S14.67 48.7 27.7 48.7s23.63-10.6 23.63-23.63S40.72 1.44 27.7 1.44zm16.22 34.63c-3.68 5.41-9.71 8.62-16.23 8.62-6.49 0-12.52-3.2-16.2-8.57l16.2-15.78zm3.4-11c0 2.52-.48 4.99-1.44 7.34L29.71 16.73c-1.11-1.11-2.92-1.12-4.02-.02L9.53 32.46c-.97-2.37-1.46-4.85-1.46-7.39 0-10.82 8.81-19.63 19.63-19.63s19.62 8.8 19.62 19.63z"/></g>
            </svg>

            <div class="margin-left-8">
              <div class="margin-bottom-16">
                <h1 class="margin-bottom-16">
                  Hello from Node.js!
                </h1>
                <p class="margin-bottom-8">
                  Get started by editing this file at:
                </p>
                <code>
                  src/http/{your function}/index.js
                </code>
              </div>

              <div>
                <p class="margin-bottom-8">
                  View documentation at:
                </p>
                <code>
                  <a class="color-grey color-black-link" href="https://arc.codes">
                    https://arc.codes
                  </a>
                </code>
              </div>
            </div>
          </div>
        </body>
      </html>
    `
  }
}

Make some modifications to the HTML.

exports.handler = async function http (req) {
  return {
    statusCode: 200,
    headers: {
      'cache-control': 'no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate, max-age=0, s-maxage=0',
      'content-type': 'text/html; charset=utf8'
    },
    body: `
      <!DOCTYPE html>
      <html lang="en">
        <head>
          <meta charset="UTF-8">
          <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

          <title>ajcwebdev</title>

          <style>
            * {
              margin: 0;
              padding: 0;
              box-sizing: border-box;
            }
            body {
              font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif;
            }
            .max-width-320 {
              max-width: 20rem;
            }
            .margin-left-8 {
              margin-left: 0.5rem;
            }
            .margin-bottom-16 {
              margin-bottom: 1rem;
            }
            .margin-bottom-8 {
              margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
            }
            .padding-32 {
              padding: 2rem;
            }
            .color-grey {
              color: #333;
            }
            .color-black-link:hover {
              color: black;
            }
          </style>
        </head>

        <body class="padding-32">
          <div class="max-width-320">
            <div class="margin-left-8">
              <div class="margin-bottom-16">
                <h1 class="margin-bottom-16">
                  ajcwebdev
                </h1>
                <p class="margin-bottom-8">
                  shipshape
                </p>
              </div>
            </div>
          </div>
        </body>
      </html>
    `
  }
}

02 - arc-hello-world-edit

Create an About Page

Add get /about to your app.arc file and run arc init to generate a get-about directory with index.js

@app
ajcwebdev-architect

@http
get /
get /about

Alternatively you can create the directory and files yourself.

mkdir src/http/get-about
touch src/http/get-about/index.js src/http/get-about/config.arc

@aws
runtime nodejs12.x

exports.handler = async function http (req) {
  return {
    statusCode: 200,
    headers: {
      'cache-control': 'no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate, max-age=0, s-maxage=0',
      'content-type': 'text/html; charset=utf8'
    },
    body: `
      <!DOCTYPE html>
      <html lang="en">
        <head>
          <meta charset="UTF-8">
          <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

          <title>ajcwebdev</title>

          <style>
            * {
              margin: 0;
              padding: 0;
              box-sizing: border-box;
            }
            body {
              font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif;
            }
            .max-width-320 {
              max-width: 20rem;
            }
            .margin-left-8 {
              margin-left: 0.5rem;
            }
            .margin-bottom-16 {
              margin-bottom: 1rem;
            }
            .margin-bottom-8 {
              margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
            }
            .padding-32 {
              padding: 2rem;
            }
            .color-grey {
              color: #333;
            }
            .color-black-link:hover {
              color: black;
            }
          </style>
        </head>

        <body class="padding-32">
          <div class="max-width-320">
            <div class="margin-left-8">
              <div class="margin-bottom-16">
                <h1 class="margin-bottom-16">
                  About
                </h1>

                <p class="margin-bottom-8">
                  This page tells you about stuff
                </p>
              </div>
            </div>
          </div>
        </body>
      </html>
    `
  }
}

03 - arc-about-page

Deploy to AWS

We will first deploy to a staging environment and then to a production environment.

Deploy to Staging Environment

arc deploy

         App ⌁ ajcwebdev-architect
      Region ⌁ us-west-2
     Profile ⌁ default
     Version ⌁ Architect 8.5.11
         cwd ⌁ /Users/ajcwebdev/ajcwebdev-architect

⚬ Deploy Initializing deployment
  | Stack ... AjcwebdevArchitectStaging
✓ Hydrate Finished checks, nothing to hydrate
⚬ Deploy Created deployment templates
✓ Deploy Generated CloudFormation deployment
✓ Deploy Deployed & built infrastructure
✓ Success! Deployed app in 107.684 seconds

    https://mi1p1lmaq6.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com

⚬ Deploy Deploying static assets...
⚬ Deploy @static folder (public/) not found, skipping static asset deployment

Visit the URL (https://mi1p1lmaq6.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com in my case) to see your site.

04 - arc-deployed-staging-website

Deploy to Production Environment

arc deploy production

         App ⌁ ajcwebdev-architect
      Region ⌁ us-west-2
     Profile ⌁ default
     Version ⌁ Architect 8.5.11
         cwd ⌁ /Users/ajcwebdev/ajcwebdev-architect

⚬ Deploy Initializing deployment
  | Stack ... AjcwebdevArchitectProduction
✓ Hydrate Finished checks, nothing to hydrate
⚬ Deploy Created deployment templates
✓ Deploy Generated CloudFormation deployment
✓ Deploy Deployed & built infrastructure
✓ Success! Deployed app in 105.266 seconds

    https://5qg90om5c6.execute-api.us-west-2.amazonaws.com

⚬ Deploy Deploying static assets...
⚬ Deploy @static folder (public/) not found, skipping static asset deployment

05 - arc-deployed-production-website