How to Download an Existing AWS Lambda Deployment Package

Imagine this: You’ve built a Lambda function using Python and uploaded it via a .zip file. But now, you’ve misplaced your source files and need to make critical updates. Don’t worry — AWS has you covered. Here’s how you can download your existing Lambda function deployment package directly from the AWS Management Console.

Steps to Download Your Lambda Deployment Package

1. Access Your Lambda Function:

First, log in to your AWS Management Console. Navigate to the Lambda service by searching “Lambda” in the search bar at the top. Once there, locate the specific Lambda function you wish to download.

2. Open Function’s Settings:

Click on your Lambda function to view its settings page. You will see a dashboard showing various tabs like Configuration, Monitoring, and more.

3. Use the Actions Menu:

At the top right of the page, locate and click the Actions dropdown menu. This menu contains essential tools and options for managing your Lambda function.

4. Export the Deployment Package:

In the Actions dropdown menu, select Export function. A popup will appear with multiple export options.

5. Download the Package:

Within the popup, select the option labeled Download deployment package. This action will initiate the download of the deployment package as a .zip file to your local machine.

Understanding Deployment Packages: A deployment package is a .zip archive that contains your function’s code, libraries, and dependencies. When you initially upload a deployment package, AWS Lambda uses it to create an execution environment for running your code.

After Downloading

Once downloaded, unzip the package on your local machine to retrieve your code and any associated dependencies. This allows you to update your code, test changes, and modify or add new functionality. After making changes, you can update your Lambda function by either uploading the updated .zip file via the AWS Management Console or using the AWS CLI.

Pro Tip: Regularly back up your code locally or use version control systems like Git to prevent data loss and maintain development history.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to easily recover and update your AWS Lambda functions. This method ensures that you always have access to your Lambda code, no matter what happens to your local copies.