Resolving AWS Lambda Image Environment Variables Not Found Issues

Discover solutions for missing environment variables in AWS Lambda container images and learn how to properly set up your SAM template.
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Troubleshooting Missing Environment Variables in AWS Lambda Container Images

When developing serverless applications using AWS Lambda, a common challenge developers face is ensuring that environment variables are properly recognized within the deployed Lambda functions. In particular, if you're utilizing a container image based on the AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM), you may encounter an issue where environment variables defined in your YAML template are not found when your function runs. This article will guide you through understanding and resolving this problem.

The Problem

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The Steps to Create Your Lambda

To set the stage, let’s quickly clarify how the Lambda function was initially created:

Scaffolded using SAM with the selected AWS Quick Start Templates option.

Executed sam build to build the container image.

Pushed the image to ECR (Elastic Container Registry).

Created the Lambda function by pointing it to the ECR container image.

Example Template YAML Code

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Understanding Why Environment Variables Are Missing

The root of the problem lies in what happens during the sam build and sam deploy processes. Here’s a detailed explanation:

What Happens During sam build?

What Happens During sam deploy?

Resolution Steps

To ensure your environment variables are available to the Lambda function, follow these simple steps:

Make Sure to Deploy: After successfully running sam build, ensure to execute sam deploy. This is crucial—without deploying, any configurations, including environment variables, will not take effect.

Review the Environment Section: Ensure that your YAML file’s environment section is appropriately specified under the properties of your function.

Conclusion

In summary, the issue with the missing environment variables in your AWS Lambda container image can usually be traced back to a misunderstanding of the build and deploy process in AWS SAM. Always remember that environment variables need to be deployed for them to be recognized within the Lambda function. Follow the outlined steps, and you should be able to resolve the issue effectively.

Feel free to reach out for further questions or additional assistance as you navigate through AWS and serverless applications!