AlexDeBrie.com is the blog of Alex DeBrie, an AWS Data Hero and one of the most recognized experts on Amazon DynamoDB and NoSQL data modeling. He writes in depth articles on DynamoDB concepts such as partitions, single table design, transactions, costs, consistency, and one to many relationships, always backed by clear mental models, examples, and tradeoff analysis.
36 articles from this blog
Explains how DynamoDB's design ensures scalable performance, contrasting it with the scaling challenges of relational databases.
A developer's wish list for new DynamoDB features, including filtered streams and Redis-like operations.
A deep dive into AWS S3 Batch Operations, covering its core elements and providing a walkthrough for running a batch job with Lambda and Comprehend.
A comprehensive guide to understanding the components and request lifecycle of AWS API Gateway for building serverless applications.
Learn how to use AWS CloudFormation Custom Resources to extend infrastructure-as-code capabilities for unsupported AWS or third-party services.
A guide to AWS CloudFormation Macros, explaining how to create custom template transformations using Lambda functions for more flexible infrastructure-as-code.
Explains AWS CloudFormation update behaviors: replacement, stack policies, and update policies to manage infrastructure changes safely.
A guide on migrating an existing Amazon DynamoDB table to a Global Table, including architecture and steps using infrastructure-as-code tools.
A guide to three beginner-friendly serverless projects for ops engineers and web developers using AWS Lambda.
Performance comparison of three AWS API deployment methods: Lambda, API Gateway service proxy, and Fargate containers.
Learn how to connect AWS API Gateway directly to SNS using a service integration, bypassing the need for custom compute like Lambda.
A guide to implementing custom authorizers in AWS Lambda and API Gateway for centralized authentication and authorization in serverless applications.
A guide to setting up and using Livegrep, a fast, regex-based code search tool for large repositories, to improve GitHub search performance.
Argues that the PIE theorem (Pattern Flexibility, Efficiency, Infinite Scale) is more practical for database selection than the popular CAP theorem.
Examines four common data modeling patterns for DynamoDB in serverless applications, including simple use cases and complex relational approaches.
Explores AWS's unannounced, under-the-hood improvements to services like Redshift and DynamoDB that enhance performance without customer action.
