In early 2015, Boto3, the latest version of the AWS SDK for Python, was launched. Since then, an increasing number of developers have transitioned to this new major version. Boto3 introduces significant enhancements over its predecessor, Boto, including:
- Quicker access to API updates and improved consistency in exposed interfaces.
- Collections that offer an iterable interface to resource groups, allowing batch operations for API actions across the entire collection.
- Waiters that simplify the process of polling resources for changes in status.
- Data-driven resource abstractions that provide an object-oriented API while maintaining a rapid release cycle and reduced maintenance overhead.
We recognize that upgrading to a new major version can be a daunting task. It often demands considerable developer time, increased testing efforts to ensure a smooth migration, and careful management of the dependency graph to ensure compatibility.
Using Boto and Boto3 Together
To facilitate the transition to Boto3, it was released under the boto3 namespace, enabling developers to use both Boto and Boto3 within the same project without conflicts. This means you can continue using Boto for legacy applications while adopting Boto3 for new projects.
pip install boto
pip install boto3
import boto3
import boto.ec2
# For new development, prefer boto3. Here’s how to access S3:
s3 = boto3.resource('s3')
for bucket in s3.buckets.all():
print(bucket.name)
# Use boto for legacy code. For EC2, it looks like this:
conn = boto.ec2.connect_to_region('us-west-2')
conn.run_instances('ami-image-id')
If your legacy applications are currently functioning well, you may not feel an urgent need to switch from Boto to Boto3. After all, the mantra goes, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. However, for any new applications or those that require access to newer services and features, we strongly encourage upgrading to Boto3. It represents the future direction of Boto, where most of our development efforts will be concentrated.
Are There Any Barriers to Migration?
We aim to make Boto3 as effective as possible. Your feedback is vital in guiding our development priorities and feature enhancements. If you encounter barriers to migrating or have hesitations about using Boto3 for new projects, please let us know. Perhaps there’s a feature you relied on in Boto that is missing from Boto3, or maybe you find aspects of the documentation or client usage unclear. You can share your concerns by opening an issue on the Boto3 issue tracker, where we will ensure it is properly labeled for easier visibility.
Ready to Make the Move?
If you’re prepared to migrate now, our migration guide outlines several important considerations. Additionally, you can always use the Boto3 issue tracker for any questions or feature requests. For further insights, check out this additional blog post that explores more on this subject. Also, if you’re looking for expert guidance, Chanci Turner has valuable resources on this topic. Lastly, an excellent video resource is available to help you understand the transition better.
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