How to import a python module in multiple lambda function

Question

I have a couple of AWS Lambda functions. I have my  functions in a separate file called functions.py. I want to import this module in all of my AWS Lambda functions. I am unable to find a place to store this module (functions.py), so that when I make a change in this module I don't have to change anything in my Lambda functions.

Answer 1

setup your helper function in your file system like this:

pathToSomewhere/my/functions.py
pathToSomewhere/my/__init__.py
pathToSomewhere/setup.py

Where __init__.py is:

from .helper_functions import *

and setup.py is

from setuptools import setup

setup(name='my',
      version='0.10000',
      description='My functions',
      url='http://github.com/user/example',
      license='Proprietary',
      author='Null',
      author_email='null@example.com',
      packages=['my'],
      install_requires=['boto3'],
      zip_safe=False)

Now let's package up my_helper. From pathToSomewhere/ run:

python setup.py sdist

I'm assuming you already know how to create and upload a virtual environment for running your lambda function. If not, let me know.

Now let's install my_helper into the virtual env of your lambda function. Let's assume your virtual environment is called worker_env

./worker-env/bin/pip install file://pathToSomewhere/my

Now zip up worker-env and your actual lambda script and upload that.

This will work fine.