---
id: awslambdaric
version: "4.0.2"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# awslambdaric — AWS Lambda Runtime Interface Client for Python

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 3.2M/mo

## What it is and what it does

awslambdaric is the official AWS Lambda Runtime Interface Client for Python. It implements the Lambda Runtime API, enabling you to package Python Lambda functions in custom Docker container images rather than relying on AWS-managed runtimes. You install it in your Dockerfile, set it as the entrypoint, and point it to your handler function; the package then manages the communication protocol between your code and the Lambda service.

The package supports Python 3.9 through 3.13 and is distributed as pre-built wheels for common Linux architectures (x86_64 and aarch64, both glibc and musl variants). It has two runtime dependencies: simplejson and snapshot-restore-py. The package is actively maintained by AWS, with no known security vulnerabilities, and is suitable for production use.

Use it for:

- Package Python Lambda functions in custom base images (Amazon Linux 2, Alpine, Debian, Ubuntu) to control dependencies and layer sizes.
- Extend existing Docker images to be Lambda-compatible without rewriting your application code.
- Use the Lambda Runtime Interface Emulator locally to test container-based Lambda functions before deployment.
- Build Lambda functions that require system libraries or compiled dependencies not available in AWS-managed runtimes.
- Implement custom Python runtimes or middleware that wrap the Lambda Runtime API for specialized workloads.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Implements the AWS Lambda Runtime API to make custom Python container images Lambda-compatible, allowing you to package and run Python functions on AWS Lambda using your own base images.

Yes. This is the official, actively maintained AWS package required to run Python Lambda functions in custom container images. It has no known vulnerabilities, supports current Python versions, carries a permissive Apache-2.0 license, and is production-stable. Install it if you are building containerized Lambda functions; it is not needed for Lambda functions deployed as .zip archives using AWS-managed runtimes.

## Install

pip install awslambdaric
uv add awslambdaric
poetry add awslambdaric

## Installing awslambdaric

Before you install: Medium install friction due to binary wheel distribution across multiple Python versions and architectures; however, the package is actively maintained (last commit 2026-08-13) with no known vulnerabilities and supports current Python versions (3.9 through 3.13).

License in practice: Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing free use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install awslambdaric

# In your Dockerfile:
ENTRYPOINT [ "/usr/local/bin/python", "-m", "awslambdaric" ]
CMD [ "app.handler" ]

# In app.py:
def handler(event, context):
    return "Hello World!"

Requires Docker to build and run Lambda container images; the package itself runs only on Linux (manylinux2014 or musllinux distributions).

Verify before relying:

- Whether simplejson and snapshot-restore-py are required at runtime or only for specific use cases.
- Performance characteristics when handling high-concurrency Lambda invocations.
- Compatibility with custom Lambda extensions or layers built on this runtime.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 3.2M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

lambda python runtime interface, custom lambda container image, lambda runtime api client, python lambda runtime, lambda docker image support, aws lambda custom runtime, lambda runtime interface emulator, aws-lambda, container-runtime, serverless

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