Azure Functions (one of the many Serverless Platforms inside Azure) allows you to use Python as your runtime environment.

This is great; however, it requires Python 3.6, which is a problem for my development on a Mac (which uses Python 3.7). Downgrading/dual installation has the potential for many perils, so I wanted an isolated runtime development environment which wouldn’t interfere with my current setup.

Here’s my requirements:

• Run Azure Functions locally (e.g. “func host start”)
• Publish Azure Functions locally (e.g. “func azure functionapp publish”)
• Use my existing Azure CLI session (i.e. don’t have to login each time)
• Won’t confuse my existing Python 3.7 env.

Docker to the rescue!

I’ll spare you the details of the iterative process of creating the Dockerfile, but after a some iterations, I knew I was on the right track.

You can copy/create my code here:
https://gist.github.com/lastcoolnameleft/05b6b09735fb435b2cb4469f6cf30ac6

In short, it creates a Docker image and runs it with:

• Ubuntu 18.04
• Python 3.6
• Azure CLI
• Azure Function Core Tools
• Forwards port 7071 from inside the container to my localhost (used for local function testing)
• Mounts my home dir to /root to maintain my Azure CLI session. (e.g. No login!)

This will definitely save me time each time I want to setup a new Function (or other) environment and I hope it helps save time for you too.

Make my func the p-func!