Lambda execution model in AWS - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Understanding AWS Lambda Execution Model

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple AWS Lambda function to process user requests. You want to understand how Lambda executes your code, including how it handles the function code, environment variables, and invocation.

🎯 Goal: Create a basic AWS Lambda function configuration that demonstrates the Lambda execution model by defining the function code, setting environment variables, and specifying the handler and runtime.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a Lambda function configuration dictionary named lambda_function with specific keys and values.

Add an environment variable configuration dictionary named environment with a key-value pair.

Define the core Lambda function properties including Handler, Runtime, and Code.

Complete the Lambda function configuration by adding the Environment key referencing the environment variables.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

AWS Lambda functions run code in response to events without managing servers. Understanding the execution model helps you configure functions correctly.

💼 Career

Cloud engineers and developers need to configure Lambda functions properly to build scalable, event-driven applications.

1

Create initial Lambda function configuration dictionary

Create a dictionary called lambda_function with a single key FunctionName set to the string 'MyLambdaFunction'.

AWS

# Create the lambda_function dictionary with FunctionName
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Think of lambda_function as a box holding your Lambda's settings. Start by naming it.

2

Add environment variables configuration

Create a dictionary called environment with a key Variables that maps to another dictionary containing 'LOG_LEVEL' set to 'INFO'.

AWS

lambda_function = {'FunctionName': 'MyLambdaFunction'}
# Create the environment dictionary with Variables key
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Environment variables are like settings your Lambda can read when it runs. Use nested dictionaries to set them.

3

Define core Lambda function properties

Add the keys Handler with value 'index.handler', Runtime with value 'python3.9', and Code with value {'ZipFile': 'def handler(event, context): pass'} to the lambda_function dictionary.

AWS

lambda_function = {'FunctionName': 'MyLambdaFunction'}
environment = {'Variables': {'LOG_LEVEL': 'INFO'}}
# Add Handler, Runtime, and Code keys to lambda_function
# Your code here

Need a hint?

These properties tell Lambda what code to run, which language to use, and where the entry point is.

4

Complete Lambda function configuration with environment variables

Add the key Environment with the value of the environment dictionary to the lambda_function dictionary.

AWS

lambda_function = {
    'FunctionName': 'MyLambdaFunction',
    'Handler': 'index.handler',
    'Runtime': 'python3.9',
    'Code': {'ZipFile': 'def handler(event, context): pass'}
}
environment = {'Variables': {'LOG_LEVEL': 'INFO'}}
# Add Environment key to lambda_function referencing environment
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Link the environment variables to your Lambda configuration so it can use them when running.