# ministack-aws-emulator

This skill guides an agent through running MiniStack, a local AWS emulator for testing S3, SQS, DynamoDB, and other services.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 790 installs · ★ 88
- Author: reason-machines
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ministack-aws-emulator

## What it does

The skill gives Claude Code guidance for replacing a remote AWS dependency with MiniStack during local work. MiniStack exposes 25+ AWS services through one local port, `4566`, including S3, SQS, DynamoDB, Lambda, SNS, IAM, STS, and Kinesis. The examples cover `boto3`, AWS CLI, Terraform, CDK, and other SDKs.

Its instructions cover PyPI, Docker, and Docker Compose setup, a `curl` health check, `GATEWAY_PORT`, and the `S3_PERSIST` setting for keeping S3 data on disk. It also shows how to point Python clients and AWS CLI commands at `http://localhost:4566`.

The local endpoint only exists after `ministack` is started. MiniStack does not require an AWS account or API key.

## Requirements
- Works with: AWS

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill ministack-aws-emulator -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill ministack-aws-emulator -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill ministack-aws-emulator -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install reason-machines/trending-skills ministack-aws-emulator
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill ministack-aws-emulator -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills --path skills/ministack-aws-emulator
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add reason-machines/trending-skills --skill ministack-aws-emulator -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/reason-machines/trending-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/ministack-aws-emulator/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- run a local AWS endpoint for tests
- exercise `boto3` code without contacting AWS
- create an S3 bucket and upload a file
- check SQS and DynamoDB calls through AWS CLI

## Example prompts
- Set up MiniStack as a local AWS emulator and run it at `http://localhost:4566`.
- Show me how to create an S3 bucket and upload `file.txt` through the local endpoint.
- Check whether MiniStack is running with `curl http://localhost:4566/_localstack/health`.

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From the same set: [reason-machines/trending-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/reason-machines/trending-skills.md) — 139 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md