Cloud computing is no longer optional for developers. Whether you build frontend applications, APIs, or full-stack systems, understanding how cloud infrastructure works is becoming a core skill. As a developer transitioning into cloud fundamentals, I recently started learning Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this article, I’ll break down what I learned in Part 1 — from setting up a free AWS account to understanding IAM , EC2 , and storage services like EBS and EFS. If you’re just getting started with AWS, this guide will help you build a strong foundation. 1. Setting Up an AWS Free Tier Account The AWS Free Tier allows beginners to practice without immediate costs. It includes: 750 hours per month of t2.micro or t3.micro EC2 instances (for 12 months) 5GB of Amazon S3 storage Limited usage of other core services Important tip: Always enable billing alerts in the AWS Billing Dashboard. Even small configuration mistakes can lead to unexpected charges if limits are exceeded. Learning clo...