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In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Git with AWS CodeCommit by cloning a repository and pushing local code changes using HTTPS Git credentials. This step-by-step tutorial is ideal for developers looking for a seamless integration between local development environments and AWS CodeCommit.
Before you begin, ensure Git is installed on your machine. You can download it from the official Git website. After installation, confirm by running:git —versionIf a version number appears, Git is installed correctly.
For instance, running: 
git clone https://github.com/git/git
and then checking the version might output: 
12 packages are looking for funding
run `npm fund` for details
found 0 vulnerabilities
C:\Users\sanjee\OneDrive\Documents\courses-sanjeev-desktop\aws-developer-associate\codeCommit
>git --version
git version 2.43.0.windows.1
C:\Users\sanjee\OneDrive\Documents\courses-sanjeev-desktop\aws-developer-associate\codeCommit

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Setting Up Authentication

Since CodeCommit repositories are private, you must configure authentication to access them. Follow these steps to set up HTTPS Git credentials:
  1. Sign in to the AWS IAM console and select your user account (e.g., “user”).
  2. Navigate to the Security Credentials tab.
  3. You will see two options for authentication:
    • SSH Public Keys: Upload your SSH public key to AWS.
    • HTTPS Git Credentials: Generate a username and password specific for CodeCommit.
The image below shows the IAM console with details for a user’s security credentials, including SSH public keys and HTTPS Git credentials:
The image shows an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) console screen, displaying details of a user's security credentials, including SSH public keys and HTTPS Git credentials for AWS CodeCommit.
Select HTTPS Git credentials by clicking on “Generate Credentials” to obtain your username and password. Make sure to keep them handy for later use. Next, navigate to your CodeCommit repository page and locate the clone URL section. Choose the HTTPS option to copy the correct URL:
The image shows an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) console screen displaying sections for SSH public keys, HTTPS Git credentials for AWS CodeCommit, and credentials for Amazon Keyspaces. It includes options to upload or generate credentials.

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Cloning the Repository

Open your terminal and, if necessary, clear it before proceeding. Use the HTTPS clone URL to clone your repository: 
git clone https://git-codecommit.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/myapp
Depending on your Git configuration and system settings, you might be prompted for your HTTPS Git credentials. For example, if authentication fails, you could see an error like: 
fatal: unable to access 'https://git-codecommit.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/myapp/': The requested URL returned error: 403

C:\Users\sanje\OneDrive\Documents\courses-sanjeev-desktop\aws-developer-associate\codeCommit
>git clone https://git-codecommit.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/myapp
Cloning into 'myapp'...
fatal: User cancelled dialog.
fatal: Authentication failed for 'https://git-codecommit.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/myapp/'
When prompted, open the file containing your downloaded credentials (for example, in Notepad), copy the provided username and password, and paste them at the terminal prompt. Once authenticated, the repository will be cloned into a folder named “myapp”, which contains at least an index.js file with pre-configured authentication code. Below is an example of an Express.js application contained in the repository: 
const express = require("express");
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

app.get("/", (req, res) => {
  res.send("Hello World!");
});

console.log("added authentication");

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`Example app listening at http://localhost:${port}`);
});
A successful clone should output something similar to: 
C:\Users\sanjee\OneDrive\Documents\courses-sanjeev-desktop\aws-developer-associate\codeCommit
>git clone https://git-codecommit.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/v1/repos/myapp
Cloning into 'myapp'...
remote: Counting objects: 6, done.
Unpacking objects: 100% (6/6), 726 bytes | 40.00 KiB/s, done.
C:\Users\sanjee\OneDrive\Documents\courses-sanjeev-desktop\aws-developer-associate\codeCommit

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Adding Local Files and Committing Changes

After cloning the repository, add any additional files (like package.json, package-lock.json, and index.html) to the “myapp” folder. Then, follow these steps in your terminal:
  1. Navigate to the repository folder: 
    cd myapp
  2. Stage the new files: 
    git add .
    You might receive warnings regarding line endings (e.g., in package.json and package-lock.json). These warnings can typically be ignored, but ensure your commit message is clear and descriptive.
  3. Commit the changes with a meaningful message: 
    git commit -m "added index.html and package.json"
If Git prompts you to set your username and email, follow the provided instructions to update your configuration. A successful commit will display output similar to: 
[main 2edc0d7] added index.html and package.json
 3 files changed, 725 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 index.html
 create mode 100644 package-lock.json
 create mode 100644 package.json

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Pushing Changes to AWS CodeCommit

Once your changes are committed locally, push the updates back to your CodeCommit repository using: 
git push
After a few moments, your changes will be live in the CodeCommit repository. When you revisit the AWS CodeCommit interface, you should see the following files:
  • index.js
  • index.html
  • package.json
  • package-lock.json
The updated repository interface is illustrated below:
The image shows an AWS CodeCommit repository interface for a project named "myapp," displaying files like index.html, index.js, package-lock.json, and package.json.

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Conclusion

This tutorial demonstrated how to effectively clone a CodeCommit repository using HTTPS credentials, add new files, commit changes locally, and finally push those changes back to AWS CodeCommit. Utilizing these steps, you can integrate your local development workflow with AWS CodeCommit in a manner similar to other Git-hosted platforms like GitHub and GitLab. For further details, consider exploring the following resources:

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