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Python Runtime on Amazon Linux 2023

This tutorial describes runtime behavior for AWS Elastic Beanstalk Python on Amazon Linux 2023. It focuses on version selection, WSGI and Gunicorn behavior, dependency installation, and platform extension points.

Prerequisites

  • A Python Elastic Beanstalk environment using Amazon Linux 2023.
  • Access to application source (application.py, requirements.txt, optional Procfile).
  • Familiarity with environment configuration and deployment lifecycle.

What You'll Build

You will establish a runtime baseline that includes:

  • Explicit Python platform branch selection.
  • Deterministic dependency install via requirements.txt.
  • Gunicorn startup through default behavior or Procfile override.
  • Static file mapping and platform hook customization.

Steps

  1. Select Python platform version compatible with your app.
aws elasticbeanstalk list-platform-versions --filters "Type=PlatformName,Operator==,Values=Python" --region "$REGION"
  1. Keep requirements.txt in project root for package install during deployment.
Flask==3.0.0
gunicorn==21.2.0
  1. Expose WSGI callable in application.py.
from flask import Flask

application = Flask(__name__)


@application.get("/")
def health():
    return "ok"
  1. Use Procfile when you need explicit Gunicorn configuration.
web: gunicorn --bind :8000 --workers 2 application:application
  1. Configure static files mapping if serving static assets through proxy integration.
option_settings:
    aws:elasticbeanstalk:environment:proxy:staticfiles:
        /static: static
  1. Add lifecycle scripts in .platform/hooks/ for custom actions.
.platform/hooks/prebuild/
.platform/hooks/predeploy/
.platform/hooks/postdeploy/
  1. Deploy and inspect runtime logs to confirm behavior.
eb deploy --staged
eb logs --all

graph TD
    A[Source Bundle] --> B[Install dependencies from requirements.txt]
    B --> C[Resolve WSGI entrypoint]
    C --> D[Start Gunicorn worker process]
    D --> E[Proxy routes requests]
    F[.platform hooks] --> C
    F --> D
    G[Static file mapping] --> E

Verification

Use these checks to validate runtime assumptions:

eb status "$ENV_NAME"
eb logs --all
aws elasticbeanstalk describe-configuration-settings --application-name "$APP_NAME" --environment-name "$ENV_NAME" --region "$REGION"

Expected outcomes:

  • Platform branch shows Amazon Linux 2023 Python.
  • Deployment installs dependencies from requirements.txt.
  • Gunicorn process binds to expected port through Procfile or platform default.
  • Hook scripts execute in the expected lifecycle order.

See Also

Sources