Better Stack AWS Lambda logging

Which language is your AWS Lambda using?

• Node.js
• Python

Logging in AWS Lambda running Node.js

Collect logs from your AWS Lambda running Node.js code.

1. Install

Build and upload logtail/logtail-lambda-extension Lambda layer to your AWS:

git clone git@github.com:logtail/logtail-lambda-extension.git
cd logtail-lambda-extension
pnpm install
pnpm run build
aws lambda publish-layer-version \
    --layer-name "logtail-lambda-extension" \
    --zip-file "fileb://./dist/extension.zip" \
    --compatible-runtimes nodejs22.x nodejs24.x \
    --compatible-architectures x86_64 arm64

Take care to publish the layer in the region your Lambda function resides in. If that's not your default region, you can change it by adding --region <region-name> parameter to the command above.

2. Add layer to your Lambda functions

In your AWS Console, add the logtail-lambda-extension layer to the Node.js Lambda functions you want to collect logs from.

This can be done in Lambda → Functions → your function → Layers section. For details, check AWS docs.

3. Configure your source token

In your AWS Console, set up SOURCE_TOKEN and INGESTING_HOST environment variables for the AWS Lambda functions like this:

SOURCE_TOKEN:        $SOURCE_TOKEN
INGESTING_HOST: https://$INGESTING_HOST/

This can be done in Lambda → Functions → your function → Configuration → Environment variables. For details, check AWS docs.

4. Start logging 🎉

Use the logger as usual:

console.error('Something bad happened.')
console.info('Log message with structured logging.', {
    'item': "Orange Soda",
    'price': 100.00
})

You should see your logs in Better Stack → Logs & traces.

Logging in AWS Lambda running Python

Collect logs from your AWS Lambda running Python code.

1. Install

Install Logtail Python and AWS Lambda Powertools PyPI packages:

pip3 install logtail-python
pip3 install aws-lambda-powertools

2. Setup

Set up AWS Lambda logger with Better Stack:

from logtail import LogtailHandler
from aws_lambda_powertools import Logger

handler = LogtailHandler(
    source_token='$SOURCE_TOKEN',
    host='https://$INGESTING_HOST',
)
logger = Logger(service="example-service", logger_handler=handler, level="INFO")

3. Start logging 🎉

Use the logger as usual:

logger.error('Something bad happened.')
logger.info('Log message with structured logging.', extra={
    'item': "Orange Soda",
    'price': 100.00
})

You should see your logs in Better Stack → Live tail.

Need help?

Please let us know at hello@betterstack.com. We're happy to help! 🙏

Additional information

Interested in learning more about enriching log context and using formatters? Head over to official AWS Lambda Powertools documentation.