---
id: sqlalchemy-rdsiam
version: "1.0.3"
license: unclear
license_treatment: unclear
maintenance: dormant
---

# sqlalchemy-rdsiam — SQLAlchemy dialects to connect to Amazon RDS instances with IAM authentication

License: unclear · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 81.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

sqlalchemy-rdsiam is a SQLAlchemy dialect plugin that handles IAM-based authentication for Amazon RDS PostgreSQL databases. Instead of managing database passwords, it integrates with AWS IAM to generate short-lived connection tokens based on your IAM identity. The package supports both synchronous (psycopg2) and asynchronous (asyncpg) PostgreSQL drivers and works with SQLAlchemy 1.3, 1.4, and 2.0.

The dialect eliminates the need to modify your application code or maintain custom event handlers—you simply use a special connection string scheme (postgresql+psycopg2rdsiam:// or postgresql+asyncpgrdsiam://) and let the package handle token generation via boto3. It also offers optional features like automatic database creation, custom AWS region selection, and built-in RDS certificate bundle handling for SSL verification.

Use it for:

- Connecting to RDS PostgreSQL from applications running on AWS with IAM roles instead of hardcoded database credentials.
- Integrating RDS access into open-source tools or frameworks without maintaining a fork to inject custom authentication logic.
- Asynchronous Python applications using asyncpg that need IAM-authenticated RDS connections.
- Temporary or ephemeral database access where short-lived tokens align with your security model.

## Worth the install?

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

Provides SQLAlchemy dialects for connecting to Amazon RDS PostgreSQL instances using IAM authentication instead of passwords, with support for both psycopg2 and asyncpg drivers.

Yes, with conditions. Install if you need IAM authentication for RDS PostgreSQL and can accept dormant maintenance (last release 2023-11-08). The package is simple, low-friction to install, and solves a real problem without requiring code changes. However, verify that it remains compatible with your SQLAlchemy, psycopg2/asyncpg, and boto3 versions before deploying to production. Clarify the license terms before use in proprietary contexts.

## Install

pip install sqlalchemy-rdsiam
uv add sqlalchemy-rdsiam
poetry add sqlalchemy-rdsiam

## Installing sqlalchemy-rdsiam

Before you install: Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (SQLAlchemy and boto3). Maintenance is dormant—last release was 2023-11-08, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2024-06-26. No active development signals.

License in practice: License treatment is unclear; the raw license field is empty and SPDX is not specified. Verify the actual license terms in the repository before use in proprietary or restricted contexts.

Quickstart:

pip install sqlalchemy-rdsiam

from sqlalchemy import create_engine
engine = create_engine('postgresql+psycopg2rdsiam://username@host/dbname')

Requires IAM permissions configured in AWS to connect to the RDS instance; psycopg2 or asyncpg must be installed separately for the chosen PostgreSQL driver.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works with SQLAlchemy versions released after 2.0 (fact sheet mentions 1.3, 1.4, 2.0 support but last release was Nov 2023).
- Current compatibility status with modern versions of psycopg2 and asyncpg given dormant maintenance.
- Whether the bundled RDS CA certificate is kept current with AWS certificate rotations.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (unclear)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 81.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

sqlalchemy rds iam authentication, aws rds postgresql dialect, iam database connection sqlalchemy, rds psycopg2 asyncpg, aws iam token database auth, rds connection without password, aws-rds, iam-auth, postgres

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