Overview

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to simplify complex workflows using AWS Step Functions. By the end of this course, you will understand how to automate tasks efficiently and design scalable workflows using AWS services. The course dives deep into the fundamentals of AWS Step Functions, exploring the essential building blocks such as states, tasks, and transitions, which are key to creating efficient workflows. You will also learn how to integrate AWS Lambda and other services into your workflows, enabling seamless automation. Starting with a foundational overview of AWS Step Functions, you'll first learn to set up an AWS account and create an IAM user with the necessary privileges. As you progress, you will explore AWS Step Functions' key features, including pricing, state types, and advanced integrations with Lambda functions. Hands-on examples will allow you to create your first state machine and integrate Lambda functions, guiding you through debugging techniques and error handling. The course also offers deep dives into specific use cases, such as spam handling workflows, prospect approval, and contact form automation. These real-world scenarios will demonstrate how AWS Step Functions can streamline processes in practical applications. You'll also gain a detailed understanding of Amazon States Language (ASL), learning how to manage input/output data efficiently and create optimized workflows. This course is ideal for cloud practitioners looking to automate complex workflows in AWS. It is targeted at individuals with basic AWS knowledge and an understanding of cloud computing. The course will benefit developers, solution architects, and IT professionals who are interested in leveraging AWS Step Functions for automation.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the course's objectives, its structure, and provide an overview of AWS Step Functions. You'll also learn how to set up your AWS account, create an IAM user with admin privileges, and configure your user profile to effectively use AWS services.

AWS Step Functions - Overview

In this module, we will explore the core components of AWS Step Functions, including the key benefits they offer in automating tasks. Additionally, you'll learn how to set up your first workflow in the AWS Console and review pricing strategies to optimize costs

Step Functions Deep Dive

In this module, we will take a deep dive into advanced features of AWS Step Functions. You'll learn to configure and run a SpamHandler use case, integrate Lambda functions, and explore debugging and dynamic input/output configurations within workflows.

Amazon States Language & Input and Output Processing

In this module, we will explore the use of parallel and map states in AWS Step Functions. You'll learn how to create and test parallel states and work through practical examples, such as generating random seat assignments using map states.

Parallel and Maps States

In this module, we will dive into the concepts of parallel and map states in AWS Step Functions, explaining their importance in streamlining complex workflows. You’ll learn how to use the Workflow Studio to simplify input and output handling, and tackle debugging challenges such as fixing the polyndrome issue. Finally, we’ll walk through a hands-on exercise to implement a map state for creating a random seat generator, giving you the tools to handle dynamic workflows efficiently.

[Hands-on] - Real World Use-case - Contact Form Workflow

In this module, we will walk through a real-world contact form workflow setup. You’ll configure services like Lambda, DynamoDB, and SNS, and gain hands-on experience testing and debugging the entire state machine.

[Hands-on] - Real World Use-case - Prospect Approval Workflow

In this module, we will build a real-world prospect approval workflow. You’ll configure various AWS services, including Lambda functions, SNS, DynamoDB, and API Gateway, while gaining practical experience in debugging and testing the workflow.

[Hands-on] - Real World Use-case - News Filter

In this module, we will implement and deploy a news filter workflow. You'll configure the necessary AWS services and test the workflow to filter and process news data in real-time.

Next Steps

In this module, we will summarize the key takeaways from the course, highlight next steps for continued learning, and provide resources to further enhance your knowledge and proficiency with AWS Step Functions.