1.6. Reflection Checkpoint

Without internalizing these first principles, every subsequent phase will feel like disconnected memorization rather than a coherent system.

Key Takeaways

Before proceeding, ensure you can:

• Explain WHY the six first principles (automation, CI/CD, observability, security, serverless-first, cost awareness) matter for cloud development
• Describe the AWS Shared Responsibility Model from a developer's perspective
• Identify which tools (CLI, SDK, Console) to use for different AWS interaction patterns
• Explain how Regions, AZs, and edge locations affect application design

Connecting Forward

In Phase 2, you'll apply these principles to specific AWS services — starting with Lambda and the serverless stack, then containers, CI/CD pipelines, and data stores.

Self-Check Questions

1. A developer's Lambda function works in us-east-1 but users in Asia experience high latency. Which first principle does this violate, and what infrastructure concept should the developer consider?
2. If AWS manages the Lambda execution environment, what security responsibilities does the developer still own?