Python Builder (@now/python)

Status: Beta

This builder takes in a Python program that defines a singular HTTP handler and outputs it as a Lambda.

When to Use It

Whenever you want to expose an API or a function written in Python.

How to Use It

Define a index.py file inside a folder as follows:

from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler
from cowpy import cow

class handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):

    def do_GET(self):
        self.send_response(200)
        self.send_header('Content-type','text/plain')
        self.end_headers()
        message = cow.Cowacter().milk('Hello from Python on Now Lambda!1111111')
        self.wfile.write(message.encode())
        return

Inside requirements.txt define:

cowpy==1.0.3

And define a now.json like so:

{
  "version": 2,
  "builds": [{ "src": "*.py", "use": "@now/python" }]
}

The example above can be seen live at https://python-deployment-mhssg6mqx.now.sh/

Also, the source code of the deployment can be checked by appending /_src e.g. https://python-deployment-mhssg6mqx.now.sh/_src.

Web Server Gateway Interface

The Web Server Gateway Interface (WSGI) is a calling convention for web servers to forward requests to web applications written in Python. You can use WSGI with frameworks such as Flask or Django.

Instead of defining a handler, define an app variable in your Python file.

For example, define a index.py file inside a folder as follows:

from flask import Flask, Response
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/', defaults={'path': ''})
@app.route('/<path:path>')
def catch_all(path):
    return Response("<h1>Flask on Now</h1><p>You visited: /%s</p>" % (path), mimetype="text/html")

Inside requirements.txt define:

flask==1.0.2

And define a now.json like so:

{
  "version": 2,
  "builds": [{ "src": "index.py", "use": "@now/python" }],
  "routes": [{ "src": "(.*)", "dest": "index.py" }]
}

Most frameworks use their own implementation of routing. However, you can use a catch-all route to circumvent the framework and instead use the Now Routing Layer to match a route to a serverless function.

The example above can be seen live at https://simple-python-flask.now-examples.now.sh/Hello

Asynchronous Server Gateway Interface

The Asynchronous Server Gateway Interface (ASGI) is a calling convention for web servers to forward requests to asynchronous web applications written in Python. You can use ASGI with frameworks such as Sanic.

Instead of defining a handler, define an app variable in your Python file.

For example, define a index.py file inside a folder as follows:

from sanic import Sanic
from sanic.response import json
app = Sanic()


@app.route('/')
@app.route('/<path:path>')
async def index(request, path=""):
    return json({'hello': path})

Inside requirements.txt define:

sanic==19.6.0

And define a now.json like so:

{
  "version": 2,
  "builds": [{ "src": "index.py", "use": "@now/python" }],
  "routes": [{ "src": "(.*)", "dest": "index.py" }]
}

The example above can be seen live at https://simple-python-sanic-rf2yqvtg9.now.sh/world

Technical Details

Entrypoint

The entrypoint file must be a .py source file with one of the following variables defined:

handler that inherits from the BaseHTTPRequestHandler class
app that exposes a WSGI or ASGI Application

Version

Python 3.6 is used.

Dependencies

This builder supports installing dependencies defined in the requirements.txt file or a Pipfile.lock file.

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