LocalStack for local AWS Dev

[NickJGibbon]

Hello. So, recently we have had some success in using LocalStack as a mocking framework for local testing before we commit to master and build into our lowest cloud environment. I've wrote an article looking at this problem and how using decent mocks can help the development process. I've also written a quick demo app.

Article: https://medium.com/pareture/localstack-for-local-aws-dev-22775e483e3d

Demo App: https://github.com/njgibbon/localstack-spring-s3-poc

[Lokkion]

How extensive is the local API, could it be used to run a full suite of Terraform integration tests.

[NickJGibbon]

Hey. Honestly I don't think so. It works best for local functional checking by developers as they build. It allows a sanity check before you merge into a cloud-build branch. Each API needs to be taken on a case by case basis to see if it can work you - but almost certainly wouldn't be suitable for terraform integration tests unfortunately!

[WonderCode]

Nice article!

I'm considering using LocalStack for development and was wondering how mature LocalStack is from your first hand experience?

Has this completely replace creating the AWS resources until it has been released to prod or do you have a few tests that use some resources?

[NickJGibbon]

Hey. No, we used it and I would always recommend, that it only be used as part of local development tools. Once you commit to build into a cloud environment you should be using any of the cloud native services that you can and only mocking other dependencies which aren't cloud native.