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How to get started with the AWS SDK for C++ in Yandex Cloud Notification Service

Written by
Updated at March 3, 2025

Note

The service is at the preview stage.

To get started with the AWS SDK for C++:

  1. Get your cloud ready.
  2. Get a static access key.
  3. Configure the AWS SDK.
  4. Create a notification channel.
  5. Get a list of channels.
  6. Create an endpoint.
  7. Send a notification.

Get your cloud ready

Sign up for Yandex Cloud and create a billing account:

  1. Go to the management console and log in to Yandex Cloud or create an account if you do not have one yet.
  2. On the Yandex Cloud Billing page, make sure you have a billing account linked and it has the ACTIVE or TRIAL_ACTIVE status. If you do not have a billing account, create one.

If you have an active billing account, you can go to the cloud page to create or select a folder for your infrastructure to operate in.

Learn more about clouds and folders.

Get a static access key

For authentication in Cloud Notification Service, use a static access key. The key is issued for the service account, and all actions are performed on behalf of that service account.

To get a static access key:

  1. Create a service account.

  2. Assign the editor role for the folder to the service account.

  3. Create a static access key for the service account.

    Save the ID and secret key.

Configure the AWS SDK

To get the AWS SDK for C++, compile and build the source code or install the package using your package manager.

Below is a guide on how to build and install the source files on Linux and macOS.

For Windows, see the relevant AWS documentation.

You can also find the prerequisites and a guide in the AWS documentation.

Get your OS ready

To use the AWS SDK for C++ you will need:

For Linux, additionally install dev packages for the libcurl, libopenssl, libuuid, and zlib libraries:

sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev uuid-dev zlib1g-dev

sudo yum install libcurl-devel openssl-devel libuuid-devel

Install AWS SDK for C++

  1. Create a directory to store the source files in and navigate to it:

    mkdir -p ~/dev/aws-sdk-cpp
cd ~/dev/aws-sdk-cpp

  2. Get the source files:

    git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/aws/aws-sdk-cpp

  3. Create a directory for your build and navigate to it:

    mkdir ~/aws-sdk-build
cd ~/aws-sdk-build

  4. Generate files for the build:

    cmake ~/dev/aws-sdk-cpp/aws-sdk-cpp -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=/usr/local/ -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local/ -DBUILD_ONLY="sns"

  5. Build and install the SDK:

    make
make install

Create an app

  1. Create a project:

    mkdir -p ~/example-app
cd ~/example-app

  2. Create a file named CMakeLists.txt and add the following contents to it:

    cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.13)

# Set the AWS service components used by this project.
set(SERVICE_COMPONENTS sns)

# Set this project's name.
project("example_app")

# Set the C++ standard to use to build this target.
# At least C++ 11 is required for the AWS SDK for C++.
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)

# Use the MSVC variable to determine if this is a Windows build.
set(WINDOWS_BUILD ${MSVC})

if (WINDOWS_BUILD) # Set the location where CMake can find the installed libraries for the AWS SDK.
    string(REPLACE ";" "/aws-cpp-sdk-all;" SYSTEM_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_SYSTEM_PREFIX_PATH}/aws-cpp-sdk-all")
    list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ${SYSTEM_MODULE_PATH})
endif ()

# Find the AWS SDK for C++ package.
find_package(AWSSDK REQUIRED COMPONENTS ${SERVICE_COMPONENTS})

if (WINDOWS_BUILD AND AWSSDK_INSTALL_AS_SHARED_LIBS)
    # Copy relevant AWS SDK for C++ libraries into the current binary directory for running and debugging.

    # set(BIN_SUB_DIR "/Debug") # If you are building from the command line you may need to uncomment this
    # and set the proper subdirectory to the executables' location.

    AWSSDK_CPY_DYN_LIBS(SERVICE_COMPONENTS "" ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}${BIN_SUB_DIR})
endif ()

add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME}
        example_app.cpp)

target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
        ${AWSSDK_LINK_LIBRARIES})

  3. Create a project file named example_app.cpp and add the following contents to it:

    #include <aws/core/Aws.h>
#include <aws/core/auth/AWSCredentials.h>
#include <aws/sns/SNSClient.h>
#include <iostream>

int main(int argc, char **argv) {
    std::string endpoint = "https://notifications.yandexcloud.net/";
    std::string accessKeyId = "<static_key_ID>";
    std::string secretKey = "<secret_key>";
    std::string region = "ru-central1";

    Aws::SDKOptions options;
    Aws::InitAPI(options); // Should only be called once.
    {
        Aws::Auth::AWSCredentials credentials(accessKeyId, secretKey);

        Aws::Client::ClientConfiguration clientConfig;
        clientConfig.endpointOverride = endpoint;
        clientConfig.region = region;

        Aws::SNS::SNSClient snsClient(credentials, clientConfig);
    }

    Aws::ShutdownAPI(options); // Should only be called once.
    return 0;
}

    Where:

    • accessKeyId: Static key ID
    • secretKey: Secret key

  4. Create a directory for the build:

    cd ~/example-app
mkdir build
cd build

  5. Configure cmake and build the project:

    cmake ..
cmake --build .

See also the official Hello SNS example.

Create a notification channel

try {
    Aws::SNS::Model::CreatePlatformApplicationRequest request;
    request.SetName("<channel_name>");
    request.SetPlatform("<platform_type>");

    Aws::Map<Aws::String, Aws::String> attributes;
    attributes["<authentication_type>"] = "<key>";
    request.SetAttributes(attributes);

    auto outcome = snsClient.CreatePlatformApplication(request);

    if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
        std::cout << "Platform application ARN: " << outcome.GetResult().GetPlatformApplicationArn() << std::endl;
    } else {
        std::cerr << "Error creating platform application: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
    }
} catch (std::exception &ex) {
    std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
}

Where:

  • SetName: Notification channel name, user-defined. The name must be unique within the cloud. It may contain lowercase and uppercase Latin letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, and periods. It may be from 1 to 256 characters long. For APNs channels, we recommend specifying the bundle ID in the name, and for FCM and HMS, the full package name.

  • SetPlatform: Mobile platform type:

    • APNS and APNS_SANDBOX: Apple Push Notification service (APNs). Use APNS_SANDBOX to test the application.
    • GCM: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM).
    • HMS: Huawei Mobile Services (HMS).

  • attributes: Mobile platform authentication parameters in key=value format. The values depend on platform:

    • APNs:

      • Token-based authentication:

        • PlatformPrincipal: Path to the token signature key file from Apple
        • PlatformCredential: Key ID
        • ApplePlatformTeamID: Team ID
        • ApplePlatformBundleID: Bundle ID

      • Certificate-based authentication:

        • PlatformPrincipal: SSL certificate in .pem format

        • PlatformCredential: Certificate private key in .pem format

          To save the certificate and the private key in individual .pem files, use the openssl Linux utility:

          openssl pkcs12 -in Certificates.p12 -nokeys -nodes -out certificate.pem
openssl pkcs12 -in Certificates.p12 -nocerts -nodes -out privatekey.pem

      Token-based authentication: The more modern and secure method.

    • FCM: PlatformCredential is the Google Cloud service account key in JSON format for authentication with the HTTP v1 API or API key (server key) for authentication with the legacy API.

      Use the HTTP v1 API because the FCM legacy API is no longer supported starting July 2024.

    • HMS:

      • PlatformPrincipal: Key ID
      • PlatformCredential: API key

As a result, you will get a notification channel ID (ARN).

Get a list of notification channels

Aws::SNS::Model::ListPlatformApplicationsRequest request;
Aws::SNS::Model::ListPlatformApplicationsOutcome outcome = snsClient.ListPlatformApplications(request);

if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
    Aws::Vector<Aws::SNS::Model::PlatformApplication> &applications =
        outcome.GetResult().GetPlatformApplications();

    std::cout << "You have " << applications.size() << " platform application"
            << (applications.size() == 1 ? "" : "s") << " in your account." << std::endl;

    if (!applications.empty()) {
        std::cout << "Here are your platform application ARNs:" << std::endl;
        for (const Aws::SNS::Model::PlatformApplication &app : applications) {
            std::cout << "  * " << app.GetPlatformApplicationArn() << std::endl;
        }
    }
} else {
    std::cerr << "Error listing platform applications: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
}

You will get the list of notification channels located in the same folder as the service account.

Create an endpoint

try {
    std::string appArn = "<notification_channel_ARN>";
    std::string token = "<push_token>";

    Aws::SNS::Model::CreatePlatformEndpointRequest request;
    request.SetPlatformApplicationArn(appArn);
    request.SetToken(token);

    auto outcome = snsClient.CreatePlatformEndpoint(request);

    if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
        std::cout << "Endpoint ARN: " << outcome.GetResult().GetEndpointArn() << std::endl;
    } else {
        std::cerr << "Error creating platform endpoint: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
    }
} catch (std::exception &ex) {
    std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
}

Where:

  • appArn: Notification channel ID (ARN).
  • token: Unique push token for the application on the user’s device.

As a result, you will get a mobile endpoint ID (ARN).

Send a notification

Explicit notifications (Bright Push)

try {
    std::string targetArn = "<endpoint_ARN>";
    std::string message = R"({
        "default": "<notification_text>",
        "APNS": "{\"aps\": {\"alert\": \"<notification_text>\"}}"
    })";
    std::string messageStructure = "json";

    Aws::SNS::Model::PublishRequest request;
    request.SetTargetArn(targetArn);
    request.SetMessage(message);
    request.SetMessageStructure(messageStructure);

    auto outcome = snsClient.Publish(request);

    if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
        std::cout << "Message ID: " << outcome.GetResult().GetMessageId() << std::endl;
    } else {
        std::cerr << "Error publishing message: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
    }
} catch (std::exception &ex) {
    std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
}

try {
    std::string targetArn = "<endpoint_ARN>";
    std::string message = R"({
        "default": "<notification_text>",
        "GCM": "{\"notification\": {\"body\": \"<notification_text>\"}}"
    })";
    std::string messageStructure = "json";

    Aws::SNS::Model::PublishRequest request;
    request.SetTargetArn(targetArn);
    request.SetMessage(message);
    request.SetMessageStructure(messageStructure);

    auto outcome = snsClient.Publish(request);

    if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
        std::cout << "Message ID: " << outcome.GetResult().GetMessageId() << std::endl;
    } else {
        std::cerr << "Error publishing message: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
    }
} catch (std::exception &ex) {
    std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
}

Where:

  • targetArn: Mobile endpoint ID (ARN)
  • message: Message
  • messageStructure: Message format

Silent notifications (Silent Push)

try {
    std::string targetArn = "<endpoint_ARN>";
    std::string silentMessage = R"({
        "default": "<notification_text>",
        "APNS": "{\"key\": \"value\"}"
    })";
    std::string messageStructure = "json";

    Aws::SNS::Model::PublishRequest request;
    request.SetTargetArn(targetArn);
    request.SetMessage(message);
    request.SetMessageStructure(messageStructure);

    auto outcome = snsClient.Publish(request);

    if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
        std::cout << "Message ID: " << outcome.GetResult().GetMessageId() << std::endl;
    } else {
        std::cerr << "Error publishing message: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
    }
} catch (std::exception &ex) {
    std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
}

try {
    std::string targetArn = "<endpoint_ARN>";
    std::string message = R"({
        "default": "<notification_text>",
        "GCM": "{\"data\": {\"key\": \"value\"}}"
    })";
    std::string messageStructure = "json";

    Aws::SNS::Model::PublishRequest request;
    request.SetTargetArn(targetArn);
    request.SetMessage(message);
    request.SetMessageStructure(messageStructure);
    
    auto outcome = snsClient.Publish(request);

    if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
        std::cout << "Message ID: " << outcome.GetResult().GetMessageId() << std::endl;
    } else {
        std::cerr << "Error publishing message: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
    }
} catch (std::exception &ex) {
    std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
}

Where:

  • targetArn: Mobile endpoint ID (ARN)
  • message: Message
  • messageStructure: Message format

Text message

  try {
      std::string phoneNumber = "<phone_number>";
      std::string message = "<notification_text>";

      Aws::SNS::Model::PublishRequest request;
      request.SetPhoneNumber(phoneNumber);
      request.SetMessage(message);

      Aws::Map<Aws::String, Aws::SNS::Model::MessageAttributeValue> messageAttributes;
      Aws::SNS::Model::MessageAttributeValue senderIdAttribute;
      senderIdAttribute.SetDataType("String");
      senderIdAttribute.SetStringValue("<sender's_text_name>");
      messageAttributes["AWS.SNS.SMS.SenderID"] = senderIdAttribute;
      request.SetMessageAttributes(messageAttributes);

      auto outcome = snsClient.Publish(request);

      if (outcome.IsSuccess()) {
          std::cout << "Message ID: " << outcome.GetResult().GetMessageId() << std::endl;
      } else {
          std::cerr << "Error sending SMS: " << outcome.GetError().GetMessage() << std::endl;
      }
  } catch (std::exception &ex) {
      std::cerr << "Exception occurred: " << ex.what() << std::endl;
  }

Where:

  • phoneNumber: Recipient's phone number
  • message: Notification text
  • senderIdAttribute.SetStringValue: Sender's text name

See also

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