Automating React App Deployment with AWS CodePipeline and Amazon S3

Overview

In the fast-paced world of front-end development, automation isn’t a luxury but a necessity. Manual deployment of React apps can be time-consuming and error-prone. In this tutorial, we’ll set up a CI/CD pipeline for a React application using AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and S3, ensuring smooth, automatic deployments from GitHub to the cloud.

In this guide, you will learn how to automate the deployment of your React app using AWS services so your updates go live instantly, reliably, and at scale.

Why Use CI/CD for React with AWS CodePipeline?

AWS CodePipeline is Amazon’s managed CI/CD service that allows you to automate this entire process. When combined with AWS CodeBuild and Amazon S3, it enables a smooth deployment pipeline for React apps, ensuring:

• Faster release cycles
• Fewer manual errors
• Automatic builds and deployments from GitHub
• Easy rollback or re-deployment options

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your React App

Make sure your project has a working build setup.

Check your package.json for the build script:

Create a buildspec.yml file in the project root:

Step 2: Create an Amazon S3 Bucket for Hosting

• Go to Amazon S3 > Create Bucket
• Use a globally unique name like my-react-app-deployments
• After creation:
  • Enable Static website hosting in Properties
  • Set:
    • Index document: html
    • Error document: html (for React routers)
  • (Optional) Make it public (for dev) or use CloudFront + OAI for production
    Step 3: Set Up AWS CodeBuild
  • Go to CodeBuild > Create build project
  • Set:
    • Name: react-build-project
    • Source provider: GitHub → connect your repo
    • Environment image: Managed image → Ubuntu, Node.js 18
    • Buildspec: Select “Use a buildspec.yml file”
  • Set Artifacts:
    • Type: Amazon S3
    • Bucket: Choose your S3 bucket
  • IAM Role:
    • Let AWS create a role or attach permissions:
      • s3:PutObject
      • logs:*

Step 4: Create AWS CodePipeline Pipeline

1. Go to AWS CodePipeline > Create pipeline
2. Pipeline name: react-ci-pipeline
3. Choose service role: Allow AWS to create or use existing one

Stage 1: Source

• Provider: GitHub
• Connect GitHub account and select repo + branch

Stage 2: Build

• Provider: AWS CodeBuild
• Select the build project you created earlier

Stage 3: Deploy

• Provider: Amazon S3
• Select the bucket you created for static hosting
• Leave file name empty (it deploys all artifacts)

Step 5: Push Changes and Watch the Magic

Now go to your local project and make a change:

1. Open AWS CodePipeline
2. Your pipeline should start automatically

Once it completes, visit your Amazon S3 website endpoint to see the deployed React app.

Conclusion

By setting up a CI/CD pipeline with AWS CodePipeline, AWS CodeBuild, and Amazon S3, you have taken a huge step toward modern, automated front-end development. Every time you push a change to GitHub, your React app is rebuilt and deployed without any manual intervention.

This not only speeds up your development workflow but also ensures consistency, scalability, and reliability in your deployments. Whether you’re working solo or in a team, this setup lays the foundation for rapid iteration and continuous delivery, key pillars of modern DevOps practices.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding Amazon S3 and we will get back to you quickly.

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