Unlock the Power of Serverless Architecture in Your Django App
Are you tired of managing your own servers? Do you want to focus on writing code instead of worrying about infrastructure? Then it’s time to explore the world of serverless architecture.
What is Serverless Architecture?
Serverless architecture is a game-changer in software development and deployment. It means you no longer need to manually maintain your own servers. Instead, you subscribe to a platform like AWS Lambda, which manages the underlying infrastructure for you. This doesn’t mean there are no servers; it means you don’t have to worry about managing them.
The Benefits of AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda is a popular function-as-a-service (FAAS) that helps you run and manage servers with ease. With Lambda, you only pay for the time your servers are actually in use, making it a cost-effective solution. Plus, AWS Lambda handles the heavy lifting for you, so you can focus on what matters most – writing code.
Introducing Zappa: The DevOps Toolbox for Serverless Web Applications
Zappa is a dev ops toolbox designed to help ease the workload developers face when deploying and managing serverless web applications compatible with the Web Server Gateway Interface (WSGI) on AWS Lambda and the AWS API Gateway. If you’re familiar with Laravel Vapor, you’ll notice that Zappa serves a similar function for Python web-based frameworks like Django and Flask.
Setting Up Your Django Project with Zappa
To get started, make sure you have a supported version of Python (3.6, 3.7, or 3.8) and verify that you have the necessary dependencies installed. Then, scaffold a new Django project with Zappa installed using the following command:
django-admin startproject zappatest --template=https://github.com/Miserlou/Zappa/archive/master.zip
Configuring AWS Credentials
To set up AWS access keys locally on your computer, create an IAM user with Administrator access and grab the AWS credentials section. Then, create a .aws folder in your root directory and add a credentials file with your AWS access keys.
Deploying to AWS Lambda with Zappa
Once you’ve set up your AWS credentials, initialize the zappa_settings.json file by running zappa init. Follow the prompts to configure your project, and then specify which region you want your application to deploy in.
Handling Static Files with AWS S3
To handle static files, create an S3 bucket with a unique name and allow access from other hosts by adding a CORS configuration. Then, install the django-s3-storage package and configure it in your settings.py file. Finally, push your static files to the bucket and update your changes.
What’s Next?
In this article, we explored the world of serverless architecture in a Django app using Zappa and AWS Lambda. We covered setting up our Django project, configuring AWS credentials, deploying to AWS Lambda, and handling static files with AWS S3. But there’s still more to learn about serverless Django. Check out the official Zappa documentation and AWS Lambda docs to continue your education.