The document discusses how AWS X-Ray and AWS Step Functions can help gain visibility and insight into distributed applications. It provides examples of how applications can be coordinated using Lambda function chaining, databases, and queues. AWS Step Functions allows constructing application workflows as state machines. AWS X-Ray helps pinpoint specific service issues, identify errors and performance bottlenecks, and understand their impact on users. The document encourages using these services to build productive and successful distributed applications.

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Glenn Gillen
Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services
Gaining Visibility And Insight Into Your
Distributed Applications With
AWS X-Ray And AWS Step Functions

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The world’s leading kitten exchange platform
https://www.kittex.io/

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AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda
Amazon API
Gateway

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Coordination By Function Chaining
AWS Lambda
function A
B
C
D
EF
G

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Coordination By Function Chaining
AWS Lambda
function A
B
C
D
EF
G

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Coordination By Database
Amazon DynamoDB
AWS Lambda
function

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Coordination By Queues
Amazon
SQS
AWS Lambda
function

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Our Wish List

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AWS Step Functions
• Simple & flexible service to
coordinate the components of
distributed applications using visual
workflows
• Construct your application’s flows
as a state machine, a series of
steps that together capture the
behaviour of the application

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AWS Step Functions: State Types
Wait State
Choice StateParallel Steps
Catch/Retry Failure

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Our Suggested Changes:
Start
Email Introduction
End
Email Outcome
Detect CatVerify Address

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Let’s Build A Workflow…

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Someone has a problem
Series1

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Traditional Debugging
Developer Test
Developer
Add
Breakpoints
Add Log
Statements

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Log-Centric Approach
service 1 logs
service 2 logs
service 3 logs
user

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Identify Performance
Bottlenecks
How Does AWS X-Ray Help?
Pinpoint Specific
Service Issues
Identify Errors Identify Impact to
Users

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User-Centric Approach
user
Amazon
DynamoDB
table
Amazon
SQS queue
Frontend API

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Let’s Identify The Problem…

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Takeaways
AWS Step Functions will make you:
Productive Look Good Successful

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Takeaways
AWS X-Ray will give you:
Empathy Superpowers

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Further Reading
• Kittex: https://www.kittex.io/
• AWS Step Functions in the wild! http://bit.ly/2pEELrj
• AWS X-Ray Deep-Dive http://bit.ly/2GboFeK

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Thank You
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