Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by javagram 2312 days ago
If using AWS for personal use the first step should always be to set up a billing alarm. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatch/latest/monitori...

It’s very helpful. You can still end up overspending but at least you get an email within a day letting you know what’s going on, which can solve a lot of the cost overruns by giving you a chance to act quickly and only get hit with 1/30 the monthly fee.
3 comments
txcwpalpha 2312 days ago
AWS Budgets is a much better tool for this. It’s simpler to set up, no futzing with CloudWatch, and also alerts you when forecasted usage will exceed a set amount, so you are much less likely to overspend.

https://aws.amazon.com/aws-cost-management/aws-budgets/

link
CoolGuySteve 2312 days ago
Why is this an extra step instead of something AWS always does?

As both services and permissions multiply, the user experience of AWS is getting worse and worse. How would you even know to setup CloudWatch if it’s your first time using the service?

link
txcwpalpha 2311 days ago
By default, AWS already automatically notifies you when you exceed 85% of your free tier usage. The author did not get these alerts because he ignored the multiple warnings that he was using services not included in the free tier. Because he wasn’t using the free tier, he didn’t get alerts for the free tier.

And even when not using free tier, one of the first things AWS tells you to do when creating an account is set up billing alerts.

I’ll be the first person to line up and say that the AWS console and UI is atrocious, especially for hobby devs. But this wasn’t that. The author completely ignored the multiple warnings, got himself into a pickle, got it resolved, and is still complaining about it.

link
digitalsushi 2311 days ago
Why is it an extra step to request a wake up call when you get a hotel room? Just call every room at 6am.

Why is it an extra step to set a timer when you turn the oven on? Just set it to 60 minutes.

Why doesn't every toothbrush beep when you didn't brush long enough?

Why aren't the police keeping track of my children when they go outside?

link
robohoe 2311 days ago
Because personal responsibility and due diligence is hard! /s
link
srndh 2311 days ago
Why not have a system of pre-paid service? Cut-off once the fund dries up. This will be ideal for a testing.
link
mannykannot 2311 days ago
For many businesses, the prospect of being cut off as a result of unexpected demand would be a serious liability, so therefore this would have to be an option -- but if it is an option, the customer has to select between it or an alternative, which is exactly the problem in this case.

Free tier is even more ideal for testing than this proposal, but the only way you can make options foolproof is to have no options.

link