AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) expert for building cloud infrastructure with TypeScript/Python. Use when creating CDK stacks, defining CDK constructs, implementing infrastructure as code, or when the user mentions CDK, CloudFormation, IaC, cdk synth, cdk deploy, or wants to
Installs just this skill. Get the whole plugin for auto-invocation.
⚡ How it fires
How this skill gets triggered: by you, by Claude, or both.
Fires itselfClaude auto-loads it when your prompt matches the work.
You can call itInvoke it directly when you want it.
Slash command/aws-cdk-development
👁️ Context preview
The summary Claude sees to decide when to auto-load this skill.
AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) expert for building cloud infrastructure with TypeScript/Python. Use when creating CDK stacks, defining CDK constructs, implementing infrastructure as code, or when the user mentions CDK, CloudFormation, IaC, cdk synth, cdk deploy, or wants to
📊 Stats
Stars43,759
Forks6,464
LanguagePython
LicenseMIT
📦 Ships with agentic-awesome-skills
</> SKILL.md
aws-cdk-development.SKILL.md
---name: aws-cdk-development
description: AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) expert for building cloud infrastructure with TypeScript/Python. Use when creating CDK stacks, defining CDK constructs, implementing infrastructure as code, or when the user mentions CDK, CloudFormation, IaC, cdk synth, cdk deploy, or wants to define AWS...
risk: unknown
source: https://github.com/zxkane/aws-skills/tree/main/plugins/aws-iac/skills/aws-cdk-development
source_repo: zxkane/aws-skills
source_type: community
date_added: 2026-07-01
license: MIT
license_source: https://github.com/zxkane/aws-skills/blob/main/LICENSE
---# AWS CDK Development
This skill provides comprehensive guidance for developing AWS infrastructure using the Cloud Development Kit (CDK), with integrated MCP servers for accessing latest AWS knowledge and CDK utilities.
## AWS Documentation Requirement
Always verify AWS facts using MCP tools (`mcp__aws-mcp__*` or `mcp__*awsdocs*__*`) before answering. The `aws-mcp-setup` dependency is auto-loaded — if MCP tools are unavailable, guide the user through that skill's setup flow.
## CDK-Specific MCP Guidance
AWS Labs replaced the dedicated CDK MCP server (`awslabs.cdk-mcp-server`) with the broader `awslabs.aws-iac-mcp-server`, which covers CDK alongside CloudFormation and other AWS infrastructure-as-code workflows.
For CDK construct lookups, best-practice recommendations, and pattern guidance, install `awslabs.aws-iac-mcp-server`. It ships in the `deploy-on-aws` plugin from `awslabs/agent-plugins`, or can be registered directly with `claude mcp add aws-iac uvx awslabs.aws-iac-mcp-server@latest`.
**When to reach for it**:
- CDK construct recommendations and API lookups
- CDK and CloudFormation best-practice patterns
- Validation of synthesized templates
- Cross-resource configuration guidance
## When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- Creating new CDK stacks or constructs
- Refactoring existing CDK infrastructure
- Implementing Lambda functions within CDK
- Following AWS CDK best practices
- Validating CDK stack configurations before deployment
- Verifying AWS service capabilities and regional availability
## Core CDK Principles
### Resource Naming
**CRITICAL**: Do NOT explicitly specify resource names when they are optional in CDK constructs.
**Why**: CDK-generated names enable:
- **Reusable patterns**: Deploy the same construct/pattern multiple times without conflicts
- **Parallel deployments**: Multiple stacks can deploy simultaneously in the same region
- **Cleaner shared logic**: Patterns and shared code can be initialized multiple times without name collision
- **Stack isolation**: Each stack gets uniquely identified resources automatically
**Pattern**: Let CDK generate unique names automatically using CloudFormation's naming mechanism.
```typescript
// ❌ BAD - Explicit naming prevents reusability and parallel deployments
new lambda.Function(this, 'MyFunction', {
functionName: 'my-lambda', // Avoid this
// ...
});
// ✅ GOOD - Let CDK generate unique names
new lambda.Function(this, 'MyFunction', {
// No functionName specified - CDK generates: StackName-MyFunctionXXXXXX
// ...
});
```
**Security Note**: For different environments (dev, staging, prod), follow AWS Security Pillar best practices by using separate AWS accounts rather than relying on resource naming within a single account. Account-level isolation provides stronger security boundaries.
### Lambda Function Development
Use the appropriate Lambda construct based on runtime:
**TypeScript/JavaScript**: Use `@aws-cdk/aws-lambda-nodejs`
```typescript
import { NodejsFunction } from 'aws-cdk-lib/aws-lambda-nodejs';
new NodejsFunction(this, 'MyFunction', {
entry: 'lambda/handler.ts',
handler: 'handler',
// Automatically handles bundling, dependencies, and transpilation
});
```
**Python**: Use `@aws-cdk/aws-lambda-python`
```typescript
import { PythonFunction } from '@aws-cdk/aws-lambda-python-alpha';
new PythonFunction(this, 'MyFunction', {
entry: 'lambda',
index: 'handler.py',
handler: 'handler',
// Automatically handles dependencies and packaging
});
```
**Benefits**:
- Automatic bundling and dependency management
- Transpilation handled automatically
- No manual packaging required
- Consistent deployment patterns
### Pre-Deployment Validation
Use a **multi-layer validation strategy** for comprehensive CDK quality checks:
#### Layer 1: Real-Time IDE Feedback (Recommended)
**For TypeScript/JavaScript projects**:
Install [cdk-nag](https://github.com/cdklabs/cdk-nag) for synthesis-time validation:
```bash
npm install --save-dev cdk-nag
```
Add to your CDK app:
```typescript
import { Aspects } from 'aws-cdk-lib';
import { AwsSolutionsChecks } from 'cdk-nag';
const app = new App();
Aspects.of(app).add(new AwsSolutionsChecks());
```
**Optional - VS Code users**: Install [CDK NAG Validator extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=alphacrack.cdk-nag-validator) for faster feedback on file save.
**For Python/Java/C#/Go projects**: cdk-nag is available in all CDK languages and provides the same synthesis-time validation.
- **AWS Documentation MCP**: Integrated for latest AWS information
- **CDK MCP Server**: Integrated for CDK-specific guidance
## GitHub Actions Integration
When GitHub Actions workflow files exist in the repository, ensure all checks defined in `.github/workflows/` pass before committing. This prevents CI/CD failures and maintains code quality standards.
## Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches its upstream source and local project context.
- Verify commands, generated code, dependencies, credentials, and external service behavior before applying changes.
- Do not treat examples as a substitute for environment-specific tests, security review, or user approval for destructive or costly actions.
