How to host a Python script on the cloud.

Hosting a Python script on the cloud can be a convenient way to run your script on a schedule or make it available to others. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to host a Python script on the cloud using two popular platforms: AWS Lambda and Heroku.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, you’ll need to make sure you have the following tools and resources:

• A Python script: You’ll need a Python script that you want to host on the cloud. This could be a script that performs a task, such as scraping data or running a machine learning model.
• An AWS account: You’ll need an AWS account to host your script on AWS Lambda. If you don’t have an AWS account, you can sign up for one for free on the AWS website.
• A Heroku account: You’ll need a Heroku account to host your script on Heroku. If you don’t have a Heroku account, you can sign up for one for free on the Heroku website.

Hosting a Python script on AWS Lambda

AWS Lambda is a serverless computing platform that allows you to run your code in response to events, such as an HTTP request or a change in a database. Here’s how to host your Python script on AWS Lambda:

Step 1: Set up an AWS Lambda function

First, log in to your AWS account and navigate to the AWS Lambda console. Click the “Create function” button to create a new function.

On the next screen, you’ll need to select the “Author from scratch” option and provide a name and runtime for your function. For the runtime, select “Python 3.x”. Then, click the “Create function” button to create your function.

Step 2: Upload your Python script

Next, you’ll need to upload your Python script to the AWS Lambda function. To do this, click the “Function code” section in the AWS Lambda console, and then select the “Upload a .zip file” option.

Upload your Python script as a .zip file by clicking the “Choose file” button and selecting the .zip file from your computer. Then, click the “Save” button to save your changes.

Step 3: Set up the trigger

Now that your Python script is uploaded, you’ll need to set up a trigger to run the script. A trigger is an event that causes your Lambda function to be executed. You can set up a variety of triggers, such as an HTTP request, a change in a database, or a timer.

To set up a trigger, click the “Add trigger” button in the AWS Lambda console. On the next screen, you’ll see a list of available triggers. Select the trigger that you want to use, and then configure the trigger settings as desired. For example, if you want to run your script on a schedule, you can use the “CloudWatch Events - Schedule” trigger and specify a cron expression.

Once you’ve set up your trigger, click the “Add” button to save your changes.

Step 4: Test your function

Finally, you can test your function to make sure it’s working as expected. To do this, click the “Test” button in the AWS Lambda console, and then provide a test event. A test event is a simulated trigger that allows you to test your function without actually triggering it.

Once you’ve provided a test event, click the “Test” button to run your function. You should see the output of your function in the AWS Lambda console. If everything is working as expected, you’re ready to start using your function in production.

Hosting a Python script on Heroku

Heroku is a cloud platform that allows you to deploy and run your code in the cloud. Here’s how to host your Python script on Heroku:

Step 1: Set up a Heroku account

First, sign up for a Heroku account on the Heroku website. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll need to install the Heroku CLI on your computer. The Heroku CLI is a command-line tool that allows you to deploy and manage your Heroku applications from the terminal.

Step 2: Create a new Heroku application

Next, open up a terminal window and create a new Heroku application by running the following command:

1heroku create

This will create a new Heroku application and assign it a random name. You can also specify a name for your application by running the following command:

1heroku create my-app-name

Step 3: Add a Procfile

A Procfile is a configuration file that tells Heroku what command to run when starting your application. To host your Python script on Heroku, you’ll need to create a Procfile that specifies the command to run your script.

Create a file called Procfile in the root directory of your project, and add the following line to the file:

1web: python my_script.py

Replace my_script.py with the name of your Python script.

Step 4: Deploy your application

Now that you have a Procfile, you’re ready to deploy your application to Heroku. To do this, run the following command in your terminal:

1git push heroku master

This will push your code to Heroku and start the build process. Once the build is complete, your script will be hosted on the cloud and available for anyone to access.

Step 5: Set up a scheduled task

If you want to run your Python script on a schedule, you can use Heroku’s built-in scheduler to set up a scheduled task. To do this, log in to your Heroku account and navigate to the “Resources” tab of your application. In the “Add-ons” section, search for “Heroku Scheduler” and click the “Provision” button to add the add-on to your application.

Once you’ve added the Heroku Scheduler add-on, click the “Heroku Scheduler” link to open the scheduler dashboard. In the dashboard, click the “Add new job” button and enter the command to run your Python script. You can also specify a frequency for the task, such as every hour or every day.

With the scheduled task set up, your Python script will now run on the specified schedule.

Conclusion

And that’s it! You now know how to host a Python script on the cloud using AWS Lambda and Heroku. Whether you want to run your script on a schedule or make it available to others, hosting your script on the cloud can be a convenient and powerful way to automate tasks and share your work.