Fix
Comparison table and docs cleanup
Fixed the Global Accelerator comparison table so CloudFront and Global Accelerator details line up under the right headings, and removed stale internal script documentation.
What's new
New lessons, features, and improvements to CloudPath — newest first.
Improvement
Show Answer now reveals all options with explanations
When you click "Show Answer" on a quiz question, every option is now highlighted as correct or incorrect with its explanation shown inline — so you can learn from all the choices, not just the right one.
Improvement
CloudWatch troubleshooting drill is now interactive
The passive "think about it" callout in the CloudWatch lesson is now a 3-question practice quiz that walks you through the metrics → logs → alarms troubleshooting flow with a real scenario.
Improvement
CloudWatch comparison upgraded to visual table
The plain markdown table comparing metrics, logs, and alarms in the CloudWatch lesson was replaced with a color-coded CompareTable component — blue for metrics, amber for logs, rose for alarms.
Fix
Mermaid diagram text clipping fixed
Diagram node labels were being cut off, especially when zooming. Fixed by changing the container overflow and switching to better line break handling in node labels.
New Content
CLF-C02 coverage completed — 7 remaining gaps filled
Added comprehensive coverage for the 7 remaining CLF-C02 exam topics across 6 existing lessons. No new lessons required — all content integrated into relevant existing modules.
- Convertible Reserved Instances — comparison table and explanation added to pricing models lesson
- RI Sharing in Organizations — consolidated billing callout with sharing mechanics
- AWS PrivateLink — expanded VPC endpoints section with interface vs gateway comparison
- AWS Global Accelerator — enhanced CloudFront lesson with CompareTable and use-case quiz
- AWS Compute Optimizer — new section contrasting ML-driven right-sizing with Trusted Advisor
- AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery — backup comparison with RPO/RTO definitions in storage module
- AWS Technical Resources — re:Post, Knowledge Center, and Prescriptive Guidance with usage guide
- 6 lessons updated with updatedAt timestamps to notify learners of significant additions
Feature
Vercel Web Analytics enabled
Vercel Web Analytics is now active across all pages — tracking page views and Web Vitals with no cookies and no personally identifiable information collected.
- Page views and Core Web Vitals tracked automatically via @vercel/analytics
- No cookies set, no PII collected — privacy-preserving by design
- Privacy Policy and Terms of Service updated to reflect analytics usage
Improvement
Module 2.2 lessons upgraded with interactive components
Prose lists, markdown tables, and a broken diagram in Module 2.2 replaced with interactive compare tables, decision columns, and a new architecture rewrite activity.
- ArchitectureRewrite component: shows a fragile single-server design, then reveals a better four-service pattern behind a toggle
- Lesson 4 (RDS vs S3 vs Just a Server): two markdown tables replaced with CompareTable components; Micro-activity 2 now uses ArchitectureRewrite
- Lesson 3 (EC2 vs Lambda): broken Mermaid diagram replaced with CompareTable; Cost shape, Monitoring, Decision rules, and EC2 fit list converted to components
- Lesson 2 (S3 Lab): Policy reading micro-activity changed to practice mode so it no longer gates lesson completion
New Content
New: Domain 3 content expansion — AI/ML, Analytics, Developer Tools, and more
Unit 4 expanded with three new modules covering AI/ML services, analytics, developer tools, and specialized AWS services. Plus EKS vs ECS lesson and networking enhancements.
- Module 4.7: AI/ML and Analytics Services — SageMaker AI, Rekognition, Comprehend, Textract, Lex, Kendra, plus Athena, Glue, Kinesis, and OpenSearch
- Module 4.8: Developer Tools — CodeBuild, CodePipeline, and X-Ray for CI/CD and observability
- Module 4.9: Specialized Services — Connect, SES, AppStream, WorkSpaces, Amplify, AppSync, IoT Core, Batch, and Outposts
- Module 4.4 expanded: New EKS vs ECS lesson comparing Kubernetes and AWS-native container orchestration
- Module 4.5 enhanced: Added PrivateLink, API Gateway, and Global Accelerator coverage to networking lessons
- Module 4.6 enhanced: Added EventBridge comparison to the SNS/SQS integration lesson
- 8 new lessons total, all with interactive quizzes and decision frameworks
Feature
Dynamic social images for all pages
Every page on CloudPath now generates a custom Open Graph image for social sharing — lessons, courses, practice, and static pages each have their own layout.
- Lesson and course pages: title, description, difficulty/duration badges, and breadcrumb trail
- Practice page: split layout with CCP exam domain list and weightings
- Static pages (About, Courses, Vocabulary, Changelog, AWS Services, Privacy, Terms): accent bar layout with a section label and description
- All images rendered at 1200×630 via an edge-deployed /api/og route
Improvement
S3 lab enhanced with detailed walkthroughs
The S3 Private Bucket Lab now includes step-by-step instructions with expected outcomes and 24 screenshot placeholders to guide learners through each AWS console interaction.
- Step-by-step instructions with numbered actions for each lab phase
- Expected outcomes clearly stated so learners know what success looks like
- 24 screenshot placeholders documenting the AWS console UI at each step
- Coverage: Region selection, bucket creation, public access settings, file upload, IAM policy review, and CloudTrail observability
Improvement
Changelog entries added for recent releases
Backfilled changelog entries for the past week's content and infrastructure updates so learners can track what changed and what's coming.
New Content
New: Workforce identity and federated access lessons
Two new lessons added covering IAM Identity Center for workforce SSO and Amazon Cognito for customer identity, plus updates to existing lessons for Audit Manager, CloudHSM, and AWS RAM.
- Lesson 5.2.4: Workforce Identity with IAM Identity Center — permission sets, AWS access portal, SCIM provisioning, and Directory Service integration
- Lesson 5.2.7: Customer Identity and Federated Access — Cognito User Pools vs Identity Pools, SAML vs OIDC protocols, and identity architecture patterns
- Lesson 2.4.1 expanded: Governance triad covering Artifact, Config, and Audit Manager with 2026 availability guidance
- Lesson 2.4.2 expanded: CloudHSM section added with KMS comparison table for dedicated hardware security module requirements
- Lesson 5.2.6 expanded: AWS RAM section added covering cross-account resource sharing for VPC subnets, Transit Gateways, and licenses
Improvement
Lesson freshness indicators improved
Added updatedAt timestamps and expanded keywords to recently modified lessons. You'll now see 'updated' badges on lessons that have new content since you last visited.
New Content
New: Licensing, migration, and automation economics coverage
Filled three gaps in Domain 1 content: BYOL licensing strategies, Snowball physical data migration, and the economics of cloud automation.
- Lesson 5.3.5 expanded: Licensing strategies section — BYOL, AWS License Manager, and license-included pricing compared
- Lesson 5.1.6 expanded: Physical data migration with AWS Snowball — when to ship data vs transfer over network
- Lesson 1.2.2 expanded: Automation economics — how automation reduces costs and where it introduces new considerations
Improvement
CLF-C02 exam coverage research completed
Deep research into the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam guide mapped every task statement against current course content. The resulting gap analysis is driving upcoming lesson priorities.
- All 102 CLF-C02 task statements cross-referenced against existing lessons
- 48 AWS services identified for upcoming coverage
- Content roadmap defined for AI/ML, analytics, networking, and remaining security services
Improvement
Development tooling improvements
Internal development workflow improvements including skill routing rules for AI assistants and automated code review tooling integration.
Improvement
Project documentation overhauled
AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md rewritten to accurately reflect the current Next.js 16 + Fumadocs architecture, content authoring workflow, and course structure.
Feature
AWS Services Catalog launched at /aws-services
A fully searchable, filterable AWS services reference catalog launched — now accessible from the main navigation. Browse services by category, view mode, and label, with modal detail cards.
- DB-backed catalog with graceful fallback if the table is missing
- Grid and list view modes
- Labels legend moved to top of content column for faster scanning
- Integrated into the home page and header navigation
- Route renamed from /aws-services-catalog to /aws-services for cleaner URLs
- OG image and canonical URL added for social sharing
Feature
Rich OG images for all main pages
Open Graph images added for the Vocabulary, Changelog, and AWS Services pages — rich split-panel designs consistent with the lesson OG image style.
Feature
Beta banner in header and lesson view
A beta status banner now appears at the top of the main app header and inside the lesson learning header, keeping users informed that the platform is in active development.
Feature
Smart course start/continue button
The primary course CTA now adapts based on your progress — showing "Start Course" for new visitors and "Continue Learning" with a resume pointer for returning learners.
Fix
Reset course button replaced with trash icon + tooltip
The ambiguous reset button in the course view was replaced with a clearly labelled trash icon and a confirmation tooltip to reduce accidental progress resets.
New Content
27 new vocabulary terms
Expanded the glossary with 27 additional cloud computing terms covering migration strategies, encryption patterns, compliance concepts, and more.
- Added BYOK (Bring Your Own Key), CMK, and key management terms
- Cloud migration patterns: Lift-and-shift, replatforming, refactoring, repurchasing, retiring, retaining (the 6 Rs)
- Networking: VPN, Direct Connect, Transit Gateway, PrivateLink
- Storage: S3 Intelligent-Tiering, S3 Object Lock, Storage Gateway
- Compliance: AWS Artifact, shared responsibility model additions
Improvement
Module 5.3 Billing & Pricing rewrite
Consolidated and rewrote Module 5.3 for clarity. Two overlapping lessons were merged, and the module was rebuilt with interactive exercises throughout.
- Merged lessons 2 and 3 — they covered the same ground separately
- Rewrote support plans section with accurate current tier names
- Removed exam-specific framing in favor of real-world context
- Added match activities and practice quizzes to billing lessons
- Progress automatically migrated for users who had completed the old lessons
Improvement
Unit 5 language cleanup
Full editorial pass across Unit 5 — plain language, accurate support plan descriptions, and consistent formatting.
Feature
Interactive Vocabulary Glossary
Launched a fully searchable, filterable glossary at /vocabulary. Browse 160+ cloud computing terms with definitions, examples, and related term links.
- Search with instant results as you type (press / to focus)
- Filter by category: AWS Services, Compute, Storage, Networking, IAM, Security, and more
- Alphabetical jump navigation — click a letter to jump to that section
- Each term links to related concepts
Feature
Diagrams: zoom, pan, and full-screen
Architecture diagrams throughout the course now support zoom and pan. Any diagram can be expanded to a full-screen modal for closer inspection.
- Pinch-to-zoom and scroll-to-zoom on all Mermaid diagrams
- Click the expand button (top-right of any diagram) to open full-screen
- Diagrams now use a themed color palette matching the site's light/dark mode
Feature
Guided lab format
Introduced a step-by-step lab format for hands-on exercises. Unit 2 Module 2 Lesson 2 is the first lesson converted to this format.
- Numbered steps with clear instructions and expected outcomes
- Warning callouts for actions that cost money or modify account settings
- Checklist-style progress within each lab step
Feature
Keyboard shortcuts for quizzes
Quizzes now fully support keyboard navigation. Press 1–4 or A–D to select an answer, Enter to confirm, and ? to open the shortcuts reference.
Improvement
Unit 1 lessons converted to interactive format
Static comparison tables and prose lists in Unit 1 Modules 1–2 were replaced with carousels, match activities, and CapEx/OpEx comparison components.
- 6 advantages of cloud: now a swipeable card carousel
- 6 pillars of the Well-Architected Framework: card carousel with descriptions
- CapEx vs OpEx: interactive side-by-side comparison component
- Matching activities replace rote memorization tables
Improvement
Well-Architected Framework moved to Unit 2
The Well-Architected Framework lesson was moved from Unit 1 to Unit 2 for better curriculum flow — it fits more naturally after foundational AWS services are introduced.
New Content
New: Cloud Adoption Framework + Migration Strategies
Module 1.2 expanded with two new lessons covering the AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) and the 6 migration strategies (6 Rs), plus 14 practice questions.
- Cloud Adoption Framework: 6 perspectives (Business, People, Governance, Platform, Security, Operations)
- The 6 Rs: Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, Retain — with real-world examples
- 14 new practice questions covering Domain 1 gaps
New Content
New: Security & Compliance module
Added a dedicated module covering AWS security and compliance fundamentals — 4 subtopics and 11 practice questions.
- Shared Responsibility Model in depth
- AWS compliance programs and Artifact
- Encryption: at-rest, in-transit, and key management
- Security services: Shield, WAF, GuardDuty, Inspector
New Content
New: Networking Fundamentals (6 lessons)
Module 4.5 added with 6 lessons covering core AWS networking — VPC, subnets, routing, security groups, and connectivity options.
- VPC architecture: public vs private subnets, route tables, internet gateways
- Security groups vs NACLs — stateful vs stateless filtering
- NAT Gateway, VPN, Direct Connect
- CloudFront CDN and edge locations
New Content
New: Application integration & management services
Filled gaps in Domain 3 with lessons on SNS, SQS, Elastic Beanstalk, CloudTrail, AWS Config, and Trusted Advisor — plus 11 practice questions.
New Content
New: Billing & pricing lessons
Two new lessons added to fill Domain 4 gaps — pricing models deep dive and cost management tools — with 7 practice questions.
- On-Demand vs Reserved vs Spot vs Savings Plans compared side-by-side
- Cost Explorer, Budgets, Cost Allocation Tags walkthrough
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculations
Feature
New-content alerts and missed-lesson reminders
The course now notifies you when content relevant to your progress has been updated, and gently reminds you if you have incomplete lessons — once per day.
Improvement
Learner-centric language across Unit 5
Removed all "beginner" labels and patronizing framing across 14 lesson files in Unit 5. The course now speaks to learners directly, not down to them.
Improvement
New interactive tools across Unit 1 lessons
Static callouts and bullet lists in Unit 1 were replaced with hands-on tools — a server spec simulator, a region picker, a cost formula explorer, and downloadable worksheets.
- ServerSpecSimulator: drag sliders to spec a virtual machine and see how cloud compares
- RegionPickerWorksheet: pick your app type and location, get a personalized AWS region recommendation
- CostFormulaExplorer: interactive sliders for usage, rate, and duration with a live cost total
- CostSafetyPlan: expandable guardrail cards and a persisted lab cleanup checklist
- ReflectionWorksheet: save your thinking directly in the browser and download it as a text file
Improvement
"Beginner" labels removed across all units
Every lesson in Units 1–4 was updated to remove "beginner" framing from headings, callouts, quiz questions, and metadata. The course now addresses you directly instead of categorizing you.
- Difficulty level renamed from "Beginner" to "Introductory" across all frontmatter
- "Beginner takeaway" headings replaced with "Key takeaway"
- Quiz questions rewritten from third-person ("a beginner wants...") to second-person ("you want...")
- Labels like "beginner-friendly" replaced with plain, descriptive language
Feature
Review your answers after focused quizzes
After completing a full-screen quiz session, you can now review every question — see what you got right, wrong, or skipped — before returning to the lesson.
Improvement
Unit 1 wrap-up lesson upgraded
The Unit 1 wrap-up lesson now includes an interactive AWS readiness checklist, a one-minute cloud explanation builder, and a linked review grid to revisit any lesson.
- OneMinuteCloudExplanation: guided prompts to draft and download your own cloud summary
- AwsReadinessChecklist: numbered rows with required flags and a pass-rule footer
- Module1ReviewLinks: card grid linking back to every lesson in the module
Feature
AWS CCP Adaptive Practice Engine
A full adaptive practice engine launched at /practice/aws-ccp — 50+ questions across all four CCP domains with five session modes and a readiness score.
- Five modes: Mixed, Weak-Spot Drill, Timed Mini Mock, Domain Review, Readiness Check
- Readiness score (0–100) weighted across accuracy, consistency, and post-remediation success
- Weak-spot detection with critical, moderate, and minor severity tiers
- Post-session grade report with per-question review and a next-session recommendation
- Progress saved to your browser — no account required
Feature
Focus mode for review quizzes
Dedicated quiz lessons now open in a distraction-free full-screen overlay with a progress bar, hint reveal, and a results screen — so review sessions feel distinct from regular lessons.
- "Search Google" button available mid-question — marks the answer wrong but lets you keep going
- Per-question state is saved so you can pause and return
- Results screen shows score and links to the answer review
New Content
New: Unit 5 review modules
Unit 5 added structured review modules for every CCP domain — Cloud Concepts, Security & Access, Billing & Pricing, Architecture Drills, and a capstone review quiz.
- Module 5.1: Cloud Concepts Review (4 lessons — value prop, responsibility, deployment models, quiz)
- Module 5.2: Security & IAM Review (6 lessons including Organizations, SCPs, and a quiz)
- Module 5.3: Billing & Pricing Review (5 lessons covering support plans, cost tools, and a quiz)
- Module 5.4: Architecture Drills — service comparisons and scenario reasoning
- Module 5.5: Capstone mixed-scenario quiz
Feature
Streamlined lesson completion and navigation
The quiz results screen now shows a "Next Lesson" button directly, so you move forward the moment you pass — no need to scroll back to the navigation footer.
Feature
Quizzes now require 80% to advance
A quiz must be passed with at least 80% before a lesson is marked complete. If you score below that, you see an "Almost There!" result and can retry without losing progress.
Feature
Fill-in worksheets and font size control
Structured fill-in-the-blank tables are now interactive — type directly in the browser and your answers are saved automatically. You can also adjust the lesson text size in the header.
- FillInTable component with auto-save and a progress bar
- Font size control (Small / Default / Large) in the lesson header, persisted across sessions
- Skip-to-content link added for keyboard and screen reader navigation
New Content
New: Unit 4 — Core AWS Services (33 lessons)
Unit 4 launched with four complete modules covering AWS compute, storage, databases, and deployment platforms — 33 lessons total with interactive quizzes throughout.
- Module 4.1: EC2 — launch flow, security groups, EBS, load balancing, auto scaling (8 lessons)
- Module 4.2: Storage — S3 storage classes, EBS vs EFS vs FSx, Snow Family (4 lessons)
- Module 4.3: Databases — RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, ElastiCache, Redshift, Neptune (6 lessons)
- Module 4.4: Deployment platforms — ECS, Fargate, Lightsail, CloudFormation, Beanstalk (6 lessons)
- Every quiz option includes an explanation for why each answer is right or wrong
New Content
New: Unit 3 — Build a Serverless App (20 lessons)
Unit 3 launched as a project-based module where you build a real serverless upload dashboard on AWS — from static hosting through authentication, deployment, and production hardening.
- Module 3.1: Static website hosting with S3
- Module 3.2: Serverless upload dashboard (S3 events, Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway, presigned URLs)
- Module 3.3: Secure and deploy with Cognito, CloudFront, and Amplify
- Module 3.4: Production hardening — least privilege IAM, environment separation, alarms, error handling
Feature
Architecture diagrams added to lessons
Key lessons now include Mermaid architecture diagrams showing service flows and system design — starting with the Core Services Map, CloudWatch overview, and the Unit 2 wrap-up architecture.
Feature
MatchActivity and DefinitionList components
Two new interactive components launched across the course: MatchActivity for drag-and-drop matching exercises, and DefinitionList for structured concept explanations with meaning, example, and context fields.
Feature
Course overview page
A new course overview page shows the full structure of the Cloud Fundamentals course before you start — description, learning objectives, unit breakdown, and prerequisites all in one place.
Feature
CloudPath platform launched
The CloudPath learning platform launched with Unit 1 (Cloud Foundations), Unit 2 (AWS Foundations), progress tracking saved to your browser, dark mode, and a sidebar showing your place in the course.
- Unit 1: 10 lessons covering cloud computing concepts, service models, shared responsibility, and cost awareness
- Unit 2: 12 lessons covering AWS Regions, IAM, core services, S3, EC2, RDS, CloudWatch, and cost guardrails
- Progress saved locally — no account required
- Three-column layout: sidebar navigation, lesson content, and table of contents