Amplify Workflow

Orchestrated workflow for AWS Amplify Gen 2 development.

Available references

references/backend.md -- Backend phase: SOP retrieval, constraints, error handling
references/frontend.md -- Frontend & testing phase: SOP retrieval, local testing
references/deploy.md -- Deploy phase: SOP retrieval, deployment type mapping

Available scripts

scripts/prereq-check.sh -- Validates Node.js, npm, AWS CLI, and AWS credentials

Defaults

Phase ordering: Backend → Sandbox → Frontend → Production (only applicable phases are included)
Deployment target: sandbox for development/testing, cicd for production

Step 1: Validate Prerequisites

Run the prerequisite check script:

bash scripts/prereq-check.sh

The script checks Node.js >= 18, npm, and AWS credentials in one pass and reports a clear PASS/FAIL summary.

If the AWS credentials check fails, STOP and present this message to the user:

## AWS Credentials Required

I can't proceed without AWS credentials configured. Please set up your credentials first:

**Setup Guide:** https://docs.amplify.aws/react/start/account-setup/

**Quick options:**
- Run `aws configure` to set up access keys
- Run `aws sso login` if using AWS IAM Identity Center

Once your credentials are configured, let me know and I'll re-run the prerequisite check to verify.

Do NOT proceed with Amplify work until credentials are configured. After the user confirms credentials are set up, re-run scripts/prereq-check.sh to verify before continuing.

Step 2: Understand the Project

Once all prerequisites pass:

Read all necessary project files (e.g., amplify/, package.json, existing code) to understand the current state
If unsure about Amplify capabilities or best practices, use documentation tools to search and read AWS Amplify docs

Do this BEFORE proposing a plan.

Step 3: Determine Applicable Phases

Based on the user's request and project state, determine which phases apply:

Phase	Applies when	Reference
1: Backend	User needs to create or modify Amplify backend resources	`references/backend.md`
2: Sandbox	Deploy to sandbox for testing	`references/deploy.md`
3: Frontend & Test	Frontend needs to connect to Amplify backend	`references/frontend.md`
4: Production	Deploy to production	`references/deploy.md`

Common patterns:

New full-stack app: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4
Backend only (no frontend): 1 -> 2
Add feature to existing backend: 1 -> 2
Redeploy after changes: 2 only
Connect existing frontend: 3 only
Deploy to production: 4 only

IMPORTANT: Only include phases that the user actually needs. If the user asks for backend work only (e.g., "add auth", "create a data model", "add storage"), do NOT include Phase 3 (Frontend & Test). Frontend phases should only be included when the user explicitly asks for frontend work, a full-stack app, or to connect a frontend to Amplify.

Step 4: Present Plan and Confirm

Present to the user:

## Plan

### What I understood
- [Brief summary of what the user wants]

### Features
[list features if applicable]

### Framework
[framework if known]

### Phases I'll execute
1. [Phase name] - [one-line description] -> SOP: [sop-name]
2. [Phase name] - [one-line description] -> SOP: [sop-name]
...
(Include SOP name for phases 1 and 3. Phases 2 and 4 use the amplify-deployment-guide SOP.)

Ready to get started?

WAIT for user confirmation before proceeding.

Once the user approves the plan, you MUST stick to it. Do not deviate from the planned phases or SOPs unless the user explicitly asks for changes.

Step 5: Execute Phases

After the user confirms the plan, read ONLY the first phase's reference file (from the table in Step 3).

Do NOT read any other phase reference files yet.

Phase Execution

When starting a phase, announce it as a header:

## Phase 1: Backend
[Next: Phase 2: Sandbox Deployment]

Omit "[Next: ...]" if it's the last phase in your plan.

Resuming After a Phase Completes

When a phase completes (the reference file will indicate the phase is done), the orchestrator takes over:

Summarize what the phase accomplished
If there are more phases in the plan, ask: "Phase [N] complete. Ready to proceed to Phase [N+1]: [next phase name]?"
WAIT for the user to confirm before proceeding.
After the user confirms, read the next phase's reference file.

Do NOT re-run prerequisites or re-present the plan. Simply execute the next phase.

Phase 1: Backend

Read references/backend.md and follow its instructions completely.

Phase 2: Sandbox Deployment

Read references/deploy.md and follow its instructions. The deployment type is sandbox (deployment_type: sandbox).

Phase 3: Frontend & Test

Prerequisite: amplify_outputs.json must exist. If not, run Phase 2 first.

Read references/frontend.md and follow its instructions completely.

Phase 4: Production Deployment

Read references/deploy.md and follow its instructions. The deployment type is production (deployment_type: cicd).

After completion:

## You're live!

### Production URL
[url from deployment output]

### Amplify Console
https://console.aws.amazon.com/amplify/home

Your app is now deployed! Future updates: just push to your repo and it auto-deploys.

This is the final phase. The workflow is complete.

Critical Rules

Always follow SOPs completely -- Do not improvise or skip steps
Never use Gen 1 patterns -- This is for Amplify Gen 2 only (TypeScript code-first, defineAuth/defineData/defineStorage/defineFunction)
Wait for confirmation between phases -- After each phase completes, ask the user to confirm before executing the next phase. Do not proceed until the user confirms.
If you encounter an error or get sidetracked:
- Fix the immediate issue
- Return to the SOP and continue from where you left off
- Do NOT abandon the SOP or start improvising
If you lose track of where you were in the SOP:
- Use the SOP retrieval tool to get the SOP again
- Identify which step you completed last
- Continue from the next step

Troubleshooting

If issues occur during any phase:

Check the SOP's troubleshooting section first
Use documentation tools to search AWS Amplify docs for the error message
Read the relevant documentation page

After resolving the issue, immediately return to the SOP and continue from where you left off. Do not abandon the workflow.

amplify-workflow