How to use the command 'aws ses' (with examples)

The AWS Simple Email Service (SES) command line interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows users to interact with AWS’s high-scale email sending and receiving service through their terminals. This service is particularly popular for sending bulk emails, managing engagement metrics, and maintaining communications within applications without the need for infrastructure management. With a variety of subcommands, AWS SES provides comprehensive email handling capabilities. Below, we will explore different ways to utilize the aws ses command through practical examples.

Use case 1: Create a new receipt rule set

Code:

aws ses create-receipt-rule-set --rule-set-name rule_set_name --generate-cli-skeleton

Motivation:

Creating a new receipt rule set is essential when you need to establish new rules for processing emails that are received by your domain. This functionality allows you to specify how emails should be routed or filtered, enabling better management of inbound mail flow.

Explanation:

• --rule-set-name rule_set_name: This argument specifies the name of the new receipt rule set. You’ll choose a unique name to identify this set of rules in future operations.
• --generate-cli-skeleton: This option generates a standard output for the command skeleton, which could be useful for scripting or learning the command’s structure.

Example output:

{
  "RuleSetName": "rule_set_name"
}

Use case 2: Describe the active receipt rule set

Code:

aws ses describe-active-receipt-rule-set --generate-cli-skeleton

Motivation:

Understanding your currently active receipt rule set is crucial since it allows you to audit existing rules and adapt them to meet changing business requirements.

Explanation:

• --generate-cli-skeleton: This generates the expected structure of the output, helping users understand what information can be retrieved about the current active rule set.

Example output:

{
  "Metadata": {
    "CreatedTimestamp": "timestamp"
  },
  "Rules": [
    {
      "Name": "rule_name",
      "Enabled": true
    }
  ]
}

Use case 3: Describe a specific receipt rule

Code:

aws ses describe-receipt-rule --rule-set-name rule_set_name --rule-name rule_name --generate-cli-skeleton

Motivation:

This use case is vital when you need to gather details about a specific rule to ensure it aligns with your email processing goals. It helps identify any needed adjustments in response to email behavior.

Explanation:

• --rule-set-name rule_set_name: Indicates which rule set the targeted rule belongs to.
• --rule-name rule_name: Names the exact rule you are inquiring about.
• --generate-cli-skeleton: Similar to previous use cases, this offers a structured view of the command’s output.

Example output:

{
  "Rule": {
    "Name": "rule_name",
    "Enabled": true,
    "Actions": [
      {
        "S3Action": {
          "BucketName": "bucket"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Use case 4: List all receipt rule sets

Code:

aws ses list-receipt-rule-sets --starting-token token_string --max-items integer --generate-cli-skeleton

Motivation:

Listing all receipt rule sets is insightful for administrators who manage multiple configurations. It allows easy identification of active sets, optimizations, and necessary changes across rule sets.

Explanation:

• --starting-token token_string: A token to specify where to start paginating. This is useful for large sets of data that span multiple pages.
• --max-items integer: Limits the number of items displayed, aiding users in processing only the most relevant sets.
• --generate-cli-skeleton: Produces a layout of expected command output, clarifying the scope of the data retrieved.

Example output:

{
  "RuleSets": [
    {
      "Name": "rule_set_1"
    },
    {
      "Name": "rule_set_2"
    }
  ]
}

Use case 5: Delete a specific receipt rule set

Code:

aws ses delete-receipt-rule-set --rule-set-name rule_set_name --generate-cli-skeleton

Motivation:

Deleting a receipt rule set is often necessary when a set is obsolete or redundant. This cleanup is part of maintaining efficient and updated rule configurations, freeing up resources and reducing potential complexity.

Explanation:

• --rule-set-name rule_set_name: Identifies which rule set is to be deleted. Note that you cannot delete a rule set that is currently active.
• --generate-cli-skeleton: Enabling skeleton generation ensures you understand the feedback expected from this deletion action.

Example output:

{
  "Message": "The rule set rule_set_name was successfully deleted."
}

Use case 6: Delete a specific receipt rule

Code:

aws ses delete-receipt-rule --rule-set-name rule_set_name --rule-name rule_name --generate-cli-skeleton

Motivation:

There are times when specific rules within a set become irrelevant or counterproductive. Removing these rules keeps your system efficient and avoids unintended email routing or processing.

Explanation:

• --rule-set-name rule_set_name: Specifies the rule set containing the rule for deletion.
• --rule-name rule_name: Pinpoints the exact rule to be removed within the rule set.
• --generate-cli-skeleton: Aids understanding by modeling the output of the command.

Example output:

{
  "Message": "The rule rule_name was successfully deleted from rule set rule_set_name."
}

Use case 7: Send an email

Code:

aws ses send-email --from from_address --destination "ToAddresses=addresses" --message "Subject={Data=subject_text,Charset=utf8},Body={Text={Data=body_text,Charset=utf8},Html={Data=message_body_containing_html,Charset=utf8}}"

Motivation:

Sending an email is one of the core functionalities of SES, pivotal for businesses conducting marketing campaigns, transactional email sending, or even simple notifications. Utilizing the CLI for this purpose facilitates automation and scalability.

Explanation:

• --from from_address: Specifies the sender’s email address, which must be verified in SES.
• --destination "ToAddresses=addresses": A JSON structure listing recipient email addresses.
• --message "Subject={Data=subject_text,Charset=utf8},Body={Text={Data=body_text,Charset=utf8},Html={Data=message_body_containing_html,Charset=utf8}}": Defines the email content, including the subject and body in both text and HTML format.

Example output:

{
  "MessageId": "unique_message_id",
  "Message": "Email sent successfully"
}

Use case 8: Display help for a specific SES subcommand

Code:

aws ses {{subcommand}} help

Motivation:

Consulting help for a specific SES subcommand is integral for users familiarizing themselves with the CLI or troubleshooting command usage. It provides detailed, command-specific assistance for effective utilization.

Explanation:

• {{subcommand}}: Replace with the specific SES subcommand you need help with; for instance, send-email, create-receipt-rule-set, etc. This context-specific help is highly useful for learning detailed command functionalities and options.

Example output:

AWS CLI Command Reference
-------------------------
NAME
       aws ses send-email - Sends an email message.

SYNOPSIS
       aws ses send-email ...

Conclusion:

The AWS SES CLI empowers users to seamlessly manage their email sending and receiving capabilities with high flexibility and automation. Understanding these key use cases allows you to leverage SES for robust, automated, and scalable email communication structures, while also providing a clear pathway for efficient command line interaction in AWS. Whether you’re setting up receipt rules, sending emails, or managing existing configurations, knowing these command options equips you to harness the full potential of AWS’s email services.