How to Install Python Packages for AWS Lambda Layers

LambdaLayers.md

A guide on how to build Python Packages for AWS Lambda Layers using Docker containers.

Limitations of Lambda Layers

There are a few limitations that you need to be aware of and this includes:

• You can only use up to 5 layers per Lambda.
• The size of all your layers unzipped cannot exceed 250mb.
• Layers are mounted to the /opt directory in the function’s execution environment so be sure to Layer your functions properly if you are going to have more than one.

1. Build

Create an python.lambda.layer.Dockerfile.

FROM amazonlinux:latest 

RUN yum install -y python37 && \
    yum install -y python3-pip && \
    yum install -y zip && \
    yum clean all
RUN python3.7 -m pip install --upgrade pip && \
    python3.7 -m pip install virtualenv

usr> docker build -f "python.lambda.layer.Dockerfile" -t lambdalayer:latest .

2. Run

usr> docker run -it --name lambdalayer lambdalayer:latest bash

3. Install

bash> python3.7 -m venv pandas
bash> source pandas/bin/activate
(pandas) bash> pip install pandas numpy requests -t ./python
(pandas) bash> deactivate

4. Package

bash> zip -r python.zip ./python/usr> docker cp lambdalayer:python.zip

5. Upload

Upload the python.zip file to your lambda layers.