How to Create ZIP File for AWS Lambda Python ?

AWS lambda is a managed serverless deployment service of AWS which can be used for implementation of various applications in cloud. AWS lambda used lambda function code for deploying lambda functions. This code can be either provided via console or zip file. In this article, we will see how to create a zip file of the AWS lambda function in Python.

What is AWS Lambda?

AWS Lambda Functions are serverless components that execute code only when the particular trigger is invoked. the trigger for functions has to be configured as required. various triggers such as HTTP, S3 object upload, message queues are supported by AWS Lambda. AWS Lambda reduces the cost of idle infrastructure.

Understanding Of Primary Terminologies

• AWS Lambda Function: It is a serverless compute component that allows the execution of code only when invoked without the provision of servers.
• Python packages: These are Python modules that are downloaded and saved in the project.

Steps to create a zip file for AWS lambda in Python:

FOR RDS connection refer to article :

AWS Lambda RDS Connection

Step 1: Create a lambda function.

• Go to the lambda function overview page on the AWS console. Click on the create function.
• On this page change the execution environment from NodeJS to Python and specify the name.

• Leave everything default and click on Create Function.

• Go to configuration tab and setup environment variables to be used by function.

Step 2 : Creating Zip File

• Now locally create file called lambda_function.py inside an empty directory which will contain code for accessing the Database. the code will look like below.

import sys
import logging
import pymysql
import json
import os

user_name = os.environ['DB_USER']
password = os.environ['DB_PASSWORD']
rds_proxy_host = os.environ['DB_HOST']
db_name = os.environ['DB_NAME']

logger = logging.getLogger()
logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)

try:
    conn = pymysql.connect(host=rds_proxy_host, user=user_name, passwd=password, db=db_name, connect_timeout=5)
except pymysql.MySQLError as e:
    logger.error("ERROR: Unexpected error: Could not connect to MySQL instance.")
    logger.error(e)
    sys.exit(1)



def handler(event, context):
    if(conn):
        logger.info("SUCCESS: Connection to RDS for MySQL instance succeeded")
        return "Connection is successful";

• Install the required modules as package . Install PyMYSQL package which is required by code for accessing DB.

pip install --target . pymysql

• the root directory should look like below

• Now zip both code and pymysql package folder together. On lambda functions code editor click on upload from zip.

• Select the created zip and click on save. The fuction should be updated automatically with the changes.

Step 4: Test The Function For Access

• Click on Test from code editor of lambda function. It will open event creation page.
• Give any name to the event and leave everything as default and proceed.

• Once the event is created click on Test.
• Function should start execution and you should see below output.

Conclusion

Thus, we have seen how to create zip file AWS lambda function in python. Also we have uploaded and tested lambda function in AWS Console. Zip file allows easy way to upload complex code and packages in AWS lambda instead of writing code in console.