KKeySync
Learn AppSync by making it react

Build the graph.
Watch it work.

A focused, twelve-level journey through GraphQL, resolvers, DynamoDB, authorization, pipelines, and realtime. Every line changes a live system—no AWS account required.

Start playing0/12 core levels · progress saved locally
Live AppSync systemConnected

GraphQL field

pokemon(id: $id)

AppSync resolver

request(ctx)

DynamoDB

GetItem · id 025

Typed response

Pikachu

Core journey

One concept at a time

Start with a visible request and finish with a private realtime feed. Advanced architecture waits until the foundation feels natural.

Level 1

Meet the AppSync League

Put the four request-flow stages in order: schema, resolver, data source, response.

JSON
Level 2

Open the Pokédex

Return name, type, and habitat from pokemon.

GRAPHQL
Level 3

Pack a query variable

Declare $id and pass it into pokemon.

GRAPHQL
Level 4

Shape the Pokémon schema

Make id and name non-null and add the typed pokemon lookup.

GRAPHQL
Level 5

Register a new Pokémon

Pass PokemonInput to registerPokemon and request id, name, and capturedAt.

GRAPHQL
Level 6

Wire a DynamoDB resolver

Send GetItem with an encoded id key, then return the data-source result.

APPSYNC_JS
Level 7

Handle resolver results

Append a NOT_FOUND error when ctx.result is empty, then return the result.

APPSYNC_JS
Level 8

Turn the Pokédex page

Forward limit and nextToken into the Query request, then return the result.

APPSYNC_JS
Level 9

Choose an authorization mode

Allow IAM-authorized AWS administrators to call resetLeague.

GRAPHQL
Level 10

Build a resolver pipeline

Store trainerId in stash before the functions run and return the last function result afterward.

APPSYNC_JS
Level 11

Broadcast an evolution

Subscribe onEvolution to evolvePokemon.

GRAPHQL
Level 12

Filter the evolution feed

Return a NONE request payload, then filter trainerId to the caller's Cognito sub.

APPSYNC_JS

Elective leagues

Go deeper when you are ready

GraphQL modeling, integrations, operations, and production delivery remain available without interrupting the core learning staircase.

Sinnoh Graph Academy

Model expressive graphs without losing cost control · 4 challenges

Explore
Quest 19

Build a reusable Pokédex card

Reuse one field set across multiple Pokémon, rename results for the client, and identify concrete response types.

Quest 20

Classify every encounter

Model shared identity, closed categories, and results that may take more than one concrete shape.

Quest 21

Defeat the N+1 swarm

A nested resolver receives one parent in ctx.source; it does not receive every parent automatically. Redesign the parent request to fetch known partner keys together.

Quest 22

Set query power limits

Flexible queries need service-enforced depth and resolver-count limits; merely requiring a page argument does not cap its value.

Unova Integration Circuit

Connect Lambda, HTTP, search, events, and files safely · 4 challenges

Explore
Quest 23

Configure a Lambda expedition

BatchInvoke belongs in resolver code, while maximum batch size belongs on the AppSync resolver resource.

Quest 24

Sign a protected AWS route

SigV4 belongs to the HTTP data-source configuration, never inside resolver code or hard-coded headers.

Quest 25

Match data to its natural habitat

Choose a direct integration based on access pattern rather than placing every workload behind Lambda.

Quest 26

Transfer a Pokédex photo safely

Keep large binary files outside GraphQL while authorizing uploads and storing durable file metadata.

Master Operations League

Cache, observe, deploy, and choose production controls · 4 challenges

Explore
Quest 15

Tune the API cache

Cache stable species data with an argument-aware key while leaving rapidly changing battle resolvers unconfigured.

Quest 16

Watch the League

Configure real AppSync observability controls without recording verbose request and response content in production logs.

Quest 17

Deploy the League with CDK

Make the GraphQL API reproducible by defining its schema, authorization, and logging in infrastructure code.

Quest 18

Choose GraphQL or AppSync Events

Finish the League by choosing typed GraphQL subscriptions for domain data and AppSync Events for pure PubSub channels.

Champion Operations League

Secure, compose, test, and evolve production APIs · 4 challenges

Explore
Quest 27

Fortify the public Gym

Apply real AppSync API controls, while recognizing that WAF rate limiting remains a separate Web ACL resource.

Quest 28

Unite regional Pokédex teams

Let independent teams own source APIs while presenting clients with one composed AppSync endpoint.

Quest 29

Keep the Pokédex online

Production clients must survive expired cursors, dropped WebSockets, duplicates, and out-of-order events.

Quest 30

Deploy the Champion League

Finish with a reproducible API, DynamoDB source, APPSYNC_JS resolver, contract tests, and guarded rollout.