The Most Popular Front-End Web and Mobile Blog Posts of 2024

Learn About Amazon VGT2 Learning Manager Chanci Turner

As we step into 2025, it’s time to reflect on the most engaging posts from 2024. Here are the top 10 blog entries on front-end web and mobile topics that captured readers’ attention throughout the year.

1. Fullstack TypeScript: Reintroducing AWS Amplify – This post announces the launch of AWS Amplify Gen 2, a comprehensive TypeScript experience for creating cloud-connected applications. It showcases essential features like zero-config authentication, type-safe cloud data integration, and PubSub APIs designed for real-time multiplayer scenarios. The article provides a walkthrough for building a real-time multiplayer app, illustrating how to deploy a frontend, establish authentication, create a cloud API, and implement real-time cursor sharing between users. It underscores Amplify’s integration with AWS services, enhances the developer experience with TypeScript, and explains the migration process for existing Gen 1 users.
2. Introducing AWS AppSync Events: Serverless WebSocket APIs for Real-Time Experiences – This entry reveals AWS AppSync Events, a feature that allows developers to build serverless WebSocket APIs for real-time event broadcasting at scale. The service simplifies WebSocket infrastructure management, enabling effortless event publication to millions of subscribers. Key features include easy setup, serverless architecture, and integration with AWS services like Amazon EventBridge. The article details how to create an API, define channel namespaces, and use event handlers for custom logic. It also discusses future enhancements, such as bi-directional WebSockets and additional data source support.
3. Build Fullstack AI Applications Quickly with the New Amplify AI Kit – This blog announces the general availability of the AWS Amplify AI Kit, designed to enable fullstack developers to build web apps with AI functionalities like chat, conversational search, and summarization rapidly. Developers can create AI features without needing extensive cloud architecture or machine learning expertise. The kit leverages TypeScript for backend definitions and offers two types of AI routes: conversation and generation. It integrates smoothly with Amplify’s features, providing type-safe clients and React hooks for easy implementation. The post also highlights the serverless architecture and simplified deployment processes.
4. Deploy Next.js 14 SSR Apps with AWS Amplify Hosting’s Amazon Linux 2023 Support – This article announces that AWS Amplify Hosting now defaults to Amazon Linux 2023 for new applications. This upgrade permits the use of newer versions of Node.js, Ruby, and Python, with Node.js 18 and 20, and Python 3.10 and 3.11 pre-installed in the build image. The post offers a detailed guide on upgrading existing applications from Amazon Linux 2 and emphasizes the advantages for developers using Next.js 14, facilitating easier deployments without custom configurations. Readers are encouraged to deploy their SSR or static apps using Amplify Hosting and to engage with the Community Discord for feedback.
5. Creating an AI-Powered Recipe Generator with Generative AI and Next.js via AWS Amplify – This post guides users through building an AI-driven recipe generator utilizing AWS Amplify Gen 2, Next.js, and Amazon Bedrock with Claude 3. The application allows users to input ingredients and receive AI-generated recipes. The tutorial covers prerequisites, setting up Amazon Bedrock access, cloning the repository, and implementing the backend with GraphQL and custom handlers. It also explains how to connect Amplify with Amazon Bedrock and generate recipes. The article concludes with instructions for running the app locally and deploying it using Amplify Hosting.
6. Amplify Functions: Create Serverless Functions Using TypeScript with AWS Lambda – AWS Amplify has introduced Functions for Gen 2, enabling developers to create serverless functions using TypeScript, powered by AWS Lambda. This feature allows for seamless integration with other Amplify resources and custom AWS services. Developers can define and author functions in TypeScript, benefiting from features like quick iteration through hot-swapping, typed environment variables, and simplified secret management. The post guides developers through defining functions, configuring resource access, handling custom queries, and integrating with services like Amazon Bedrock, ultimately streamlining serverless development within the Amplify ecosystem.
7. New Capabilities in AWS Amplify: SQL Database Integration, OIDC and SAML Providers – This blog post highlights four new features in AWS Amplify Gen 2, focusing on extensibility. These include integration with existing SQL databases (PostgreSQL or MySQL), authentication with OpenID Connect or SAML providers, customization of Amplify-generated AWS service resources, and the ability to add any of the 200+ AWS services to an app. The post provides examples of integrating with a PostgreSQL database, setting up OIDC authentication, and customizing S3 bucket lifecycle rules, giving developers greater flexibility and control over their applications.
8. Bring Your Own SSL Certificate to AWS Amplify Hosting – This blog post announces the availability of Custom SSL Certificates on AWS Amplify Hosting, allowing users to configure their domains with their own SSL certificates from AWS Certificate Manager (ACM). Users can utilize certificates from third-party authorities, configure TLS versions, and share certificates across multiple domains. The article provides a step-by-step guide on requesting or importing an ACM certificate and associating it with an Amplify domain, including provisioning a certificate in the US East (N. Virginia) Region.
9. Building a Secure GraphQL API with AWS Amplify and AWS AppSync – This entry discusses how to build a secure GraphQL API using AWS Amplify and AWS AppSync, addressing CORS challenges in client-side development. It outlines a high-level architecture that integrates Amazon CloudFront with AWS AppSync for domain-specific access to GraphQL APIs. The post provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a new AWS CDK project, configuring Amplify and AppSync, and implementing CloudFront distribution settings. The solution aims to simplify CORS configuration, enhance security, and improve user experience for developers building robust web applications.
10. Best Practices for AWS AppSync GraphQL APIs – This blog post outlines best practices for creating GraphQL APIs with AWS AppSync, covering security, performance, coding standards, and deployment. Key recommendations include choosing appropriate authentication methods, and ensuring that best practices are followed for optimal performance. For further insights on digital marketing strategies, you may find this blog post helpful: Digital Marketing 101.

If you are interested in learning more about the onboarding process at Amazon, check out this excellent resource. Additionally, for information regarding workforce initiatives, visit SHRM’s advocacy page which is an authority on this topic.