Agent plugins

Agent Plugins for AWS are reusable packages that extend AI coding assistants with guided workflows, MCP servers, hooks, and reference materials for AWS development. The aws-amplify plugin provides a structured, phased workflow for building fullstack Amplify Gen 2 applications.

Agent plugins are currently supported by Claude Code (version 2.1.29 or later) and Cursor (version 2.5 or later).

What the Amplify plugin includes

The aws-amplify plugin packages four types of capabilities:

• Skills — Step-by-step workflows that guide the AI through complex tasks. The Amplify plugin includes an amplify-workflow skill that orchestrates the entire development process.
• MCP Servers — Provides access to AWS documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) through the AWS MCP Server.
• Hooks — Automation that validates prerequisites before you start building.
• References — Backend, frontend, and deployment instructions that the skill consults during each phase.

Phased workflow

When you install the Amplify plugin and ask the AI to build an app, it follows a structured 4-phase workflow. Only applicable phases are executed based on your request.

Phase 1: Backend — Creates Amplify Gen 2 resources in the amplify/ directory including authentication, data models, storage, and serverless functions.

Phase 2: Sandbox — Deploys your backend to a cloud sandbox environment for testing.

Phase 3: Frontend — Connects your frontend framework (React, Next.js, Vue, Angular, React Native, Flutter, Swift, or Android) to the Amplify backend.

Phase 4: Production — Deploys your application to production via CI/CD.

For example, if you ask "add authentication to my Amplify backend", only Phase 1 and Phase 2 run. If you ask "build me a fullstack task management app", all four phases run in sequence. The AI presents a plan and waits for your confirmation before proceeding to each phase.

Install with Claude Code

Claude Code is available as a CLI tool, a VS Code extension, and a JetBrains plugin. The agent plugin works the same way in all environments.

Step 1: Add the marketplace

Open Claude Code and run:

/plugin marketplace add awslabs/agent-plugins

This registers the Agent Plugins for AWS marketplace, giving you access to all available AWS plugins.

Step 2: Install the Amplify plugin

/plugin install aws-amplify@agent-plugins-for-aws

Step 3: Verify installation

You can confirm the plugin is installed by running:

/plugin list

You should see aws-amplify@agent-plugins-for-aws in the list.

Step 4: Start building

The plugin activates automatically when your prompt relates to Amplify development. Try prompts like:

• "Build me a task management app with Amplify"
• "Add authentication to my Amplify backend"
• "Add a storage bucket for file uploads"
• "Deploy my Amplify app to sandbox"
• "Connect my React frontend to the Amplify backend"

The plugin will validate your prerequisites, present a phased plan, and guide you through each step with confirmation checkpoints.

Install with Cursor

From settings

1. Open Cursor and go to Settings (gear icon)
2. Navigate to Plugins
3. Search for "AWS Amplify"
4. Click "Add to Cursor" and select your installation scope (user or workspace)

From the marketplace

Alternatively, visit cursor.com, browse the marketplace for the AWS Amplify plugin, and click Install.

After installation, the plugin activates when you ask Amplify-related questions in Cursor's AI chat.

Prerequisites

Before using the Amplify plugin, ensure you have:

• Node.js version 18 or later
• npm
• AWS CLI with configured credentials

The plugin runs a prerequisite check script automatically and will prompt you to configure credentials if they're missing. For credential setup, see Configure AWS for local development.

Other AWS plugins

The Agent Plugins for AWS repository includes additional plugins that complement Amplify development:

Install any plugin with:

/plugin install <plugin-name>@agent-plugins-for-aws

For the full list and source code, see the Agent Plugins for AWS repository.