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Guide · Open source

How to use Zappa: install it and deploy Python apps to AWS Lambda

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Zappa is an open-source MIT-licensed tool that packages a Python web application and deploys it to AWS Lambda behind API Gateway, so you do not have to run a server yourself. This guide is for Python developers who want to host a small web API on AWS and who already have a Flask, Django, Pyramid or Bottle app. It explains how to install Zappa, what you need before you start, and what this source does and does not cover.

ZappaMiserlou/Zappa · ★ 11.8k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check prerequisites. Confirm you have Python installed and an AWS account you can use.
  2. 2Read the project notice. Open the new repository at https://github.com/zappa/Zappa, since the README here says the project has moved.
  3. 3Install Zappa. Run pip install zappa to install the package from PyPI.
  4. 4Prepare your Flask or Django app. Make sure your app uses one of the supported frameworks named in the source, such as Flask or Django.
  5. 5Follow the current docs for deployment. The source does not include deployment steps, so use the new repository and homepage for the current process.

What Zappa does

Zappa packages a Python web application and deploys it to AWS Lambda, with API Gateway in front of it. The result is a serverless setup: you do not run or manage a server yourself.

Its topics list names Flask, Django, Pyramid and Bottle as supported frameworks.

  • Packages a Python web app for AWS Lambda
  • Places API Gateway in front of the deployed app
  • Listed frameworks: Flask, Django, Pyramid, Bottle

What you need before installing Zappa

The source lists two prerequisites: Python and an AWS account. Setup depends on AWS, so Zappa is a poor first step for someone with no cloud experience.

  • Python installed on your machine
  • An AWS account

Install Zappa with pip

Zappa is published on PyPI, so you install it with pip, the standard Python package manager.

pip install zappa

Check the project status before you commit

The README in this source is only a notice that the project has moved to a new repository at https://github.com/zappa/Zappa, and that later releases are published from there. The last push recorded here was in 2023, so check the new repository for current maintenance before you build on it.

The source does not include usage instructions, configuration options or deployment commands beyond the install line, so consult the new repository and the project homepage at https://blog.zappa.io/ for those details.

Where Zappa fits and where it does not

Zappa targets AWS Lambda. If you need a self-contained server or hosting outside AWS, it is not the right tool. Comparable projects named in this source are Serverless Framework, Chalice and Mangum.

  • Good fit: Python developers hosting a small web API on AWS
  • Good fit: teams already using AWS Lambda and API Gateway
  • Poor fit: non-AWS hosting or a self-contained server

What people use it for

  • Hosting a small Flask API on AWS Lambda without managing servers
  • Running a Django app behind API Gateway as a serverless deployment
  • Trying serverless hosting for an existing Python web app
  • Giving a Python team a way to deploy on infrastructure they already use on AWS

Frequently asked questions

Is Zappa free to use?

Zappa is released under the MIT licence, which is a permissive open-source licence. Using it does not cost anything in licence fees, but AWS charges for the Lambda and API Gateway resources you use.

What do I need to use Zappa?

The source lists Python and an AWS account as prerequisites. You install the package with pip install zappa.

Which Python frameworks does Zappa support?

The project topics name Flask, Django, Pyramid and Bottle as supported frameworks. Check the new repository for the latest details on each one.

Is Zappa still maintained?

The README here says the project has moved to https://github.com/zappa/Zappa and that later releases are published there. Check that repository for current activity before you rely on it.

Can I use Zappa without AWS?

No. Zappa targets AWS Lambda behind API Gateway, so it is not a fit for non-AWS hosting. Consider a self-contained server or another platform instead.

What are the alternatives to Zappa?

Comparable projects named in this source are Serverless Framework, Chalice and Mangum. Compare them on the framework and deployment features you need.

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Our verdict

Zappa suits Python developers with Flask, Django or similar apps who already use AWS and want serverless hosting without managing servers. Pick something else if you need non-AWS hosting, a self-contained server, or a tool with clear, current maintenance, since this source points to a new repository and does not document usage.

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