8 Python Libraries Every DevOps Engineer Should Know

8_Python_Libraries_DevOps.md

8 Python Libraries Every DevOps Engineer Should Know

As a DevOps Engineer, automation and integration are part of your daily life. Python, being one of the most flexible scripting languages, offers a wide range of libraries that can make your job easier, faster, and more reliable.

In this video, we'll explore 8 powerful Python libraries every DevOps Engineer should know — along with practical examples for each.

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1. boto3 – AWS SDK for Python

Why use it: Automate AWS resource provisioning and management.

Use Case: Automating EC2 instance creation, S3 bucket operations, or IAM user setup.

Example:

import boto3

ec2 = boto3.client('ec2')
response = ec2.describe_instances()
for reservation in response['Reservations']:
    for instance in reservation['Instances']:
        print(f"Instance ID: {instance['InstanceId']}")

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2. paramiko – SSH Automation

Why use it: Execute remote commands securely over SSH.

Use Case: Automate server management tasks like updates, log checks, and reboots.

Example:

import paramiko

ssh = paramiko.SSHClient()
ssh.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
ssh.connect('192.168.1.10', username='devops', password='secret')

stdin, stdout, stderr = ssh.exec_command('uptime')
print(stdout.read().decode())

ssh.close()

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3. docker – Docker SDK for Python

Why use it: Manage Docker containers and images programmatically.

Use Case: Start containers, build images, fetch logs, and monitor container status.

Example:

import docker

client = docker.from_env()
container = client.containers.run("nginx", detach=True)
print(f"Started container with ID: {container.id}")

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4. kubernetes – Kubernetes Python Client

Why use it: Interact with Kubernetes clusters directly from Python.

Use Case: Automate deployment rollouts, pod monitoring, or log retrieval.

Example:

from kubernetes import client, config

config.load_kube_config()
v1 = client.CoreV1Api()

pods = v1.list_pod_for_all_namespaces(watch=False)
for pod in pods.items:
    print(f"{pod.metadata.namespace} - {pod.metadata.name}")

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5. pyyaml – YAML Parsing and Generation

Why use it: Read and write YAML config files.

Use Case: Modify Kubernetes YAML files, Ansible playbooks, or CI/CD pipeline configs.

Example:

import yaml

with open("config.yaml") as f:
    config = yaml.safe_load(f)

print(config["environment"])

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6. requests – HTTP Requests

Why use it: Communicate with REST APIs easily.

Use Case: Trigger deployments, interact with GitHub/GitLab, or call webhook URLs.

Example:

import requests

response = requests.get("https://httpbin.org/get")
print(response.json())

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7. fabric – Command Line Automation

Why use it: Execute shell commands and deploy scripts across multiple servers.

Use Case: Automate app deployment or perform cluster-wide configuration.

Example:

from fabric import Connection

conn = Connection("[email protected]")
conn.run("sudo systemctl restart nginx")

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8. pytest – Testing Infrastructure

Why use it: Write tests for your automation scripts and infrastructure code.

Use Case: Validate output of your Ansible roles, shell scripts, or Python automation.

Example:

def test_add():
    assert 1 + 1 == 2

Run the test:

pytest test_script.py

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Summary

Library	Primary Use
boto3	AWS Automation
paramiko	SSH Remote Execution
docker	Docker Management
kubernetes	Kubernetes API Access
pyyaml	YAML Handling
requests	API Communication
fabric	CLI Automation
pytest	Script Testing

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