Azure App Configuration SDK for Python

Centralized configuration management with feature flags and dynamic settings.

Installation

pip install azure-appconfiguration

Environment Variables

AZURE_APPCONFIGURATION_CONNECTION_STRING=Endpoint=https://<name>.azconfig.io;Id=...;Secret=...
# Or for Entra ID:
AZURE_APPCONFIGURATION_ENDPOINT=https://<name>.azconfig.io

Authentication

Connection String

from azure.appconfiguration import AzureAppConfigurationClient

client = AzureAppConfigurationClient.from_connection_string(
    os.environ["AZURE_APPCONFIGURATION_CONNECTION_STRING"]
)

Entra ID

from azure.appconfiguration import AzureAppConfigurationClient
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential

client = AzureAppConfigurationClient(
    base_url=os.environ["AZURE_APPCONFIGURATION_ENDPOINT"],
    credential=DefaultAzureCredential()
)

Configuration Settings

Get Setting

setting = client.get_configuration_setting(key="app:settings:message")
print(f"{setting.key} = {setting.value}")

Get with Label

# Labels allow environment-specific values
setting = client.get_configuration_setting(
    key="app:settings:message",
    label="production"
)

Set Setting

from azure.appconfiguration import ConfigurationSetting

setting = ConfigurationSetting(
    key="app:settings:message",
    value="Hello, World!",
    label="development",
    content_type="text/plain",
    tags={"environment": "dev"}
)

client.set_configuration_setting(setting)

Delete Setting

client.delete_configuration_setting(
    key="app:settings:message",
    label="development"
)

List Settings

All Settings

settings = client.list_configuration_settings()
for setting in settings:
    print(f"{setting.key} [{setting.label}] = {setting.value}")

Filter by Key Prefix

settings = client.list_configuration_settings(
    key_filter="app:settings:*"
)

Filter by Label

settings = client.list_configuration_settings(
    label_filter="production"
)

Feature Flags

Set Feature Flag

from azure.appconfiguration import ConfigurationSetting
import json

feature_flag = ConfigurationSetting(
    key=".appconfig.featureflag/beta-feature",
    value=json.dumps({
        "id": "beta-feature",
        "enabled": True,
        "conditions": {
            "client_filters": []
        }
    }),
    content_type="application/vnd.microsoft.appconfig.ff+json;charset=utf-8"
)

client.set_configuration_setting(feature_flag)

Get Feature Flag

setting = client.get_configuration_setting(
    key=".appconfig.featureflag/beta-feature"
)
flag_data = json.loads(setting.value)
print(f"Feature enabled: {flag_data['enabled']}")

List Feature Flags

flags = client.list_configuration_settings(
    key_filter=".appconfig.featureflag/*"
)
for flag in flags:
    data = json.loads(flag.value)
    print(f"{data['id']}: {'enabled' if data['enabled'] else 'disabled'}")

Read-Only Settings

# Make setting read-only
client.set_read_only(
    configuration_setting=setting,
    read_only=True
)

# Remove read-only
client.set_read_only(
    configuration_setting=setting,
    read_only=False
)

Snapshots

Create Snapshot

from azure.appconfiguration import ConfigurationSnapshot, ConfigurationSettingFilter

snapshot = ConfigurationSnapshot(
    name="v1-snapshot",
    filters=[
        ConfigurationSettingFilter(key="app:*", label="production")
    ]
)

created = client.begin_create_snapshot(
    name="v1-snapshot",
    snapshot=snapshot
).result()

List Snapshot Settings

settings = client.list_configuration_settings(
    snapshot_name="v1-snapshot"
)

Async Client

from azure.appconfiguration.aio import AzureAppConfigurationClient
from azure.identity.aio import DefaultAzureCredential

async def main():
    credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
    client = AzureAppConfigurationClient(
        base_url=endpoint,
        credential=credential
    )
    
    setting = await client.get_configuration_setting(key="app:message")
    print(setting.value)
    
    await client.close()
    await credential.close()

Client Operations

Operation	Description
get_configuration_setting	Get single setting
set_configuration_setting	Create or update setting
delete_configuration_setting	Delete setting
list_configuration_settings	List with filters
set_read_only	Lock/unlock setting
begin_create_snapshot	Create point-in-time snapshot
list_snapshots	List all snapshots

Best Practices

1. Use labels for environment separation (dev, staging, prod)
2. Use key prefixes for logical grouping (app:database:, app:cache:)
3. Make production settings read-only to prevent accidental changes
4. Create snapshots before deployments for rollback capability
5. Use Entra ID instead of connection strings in production
6. Refresh settings periodically in long-running applications
7. Use feature flags for gradual rollouts and A/B testing

When to Use

Azure App Configuration SDK for Python. Use for centralized configuration management, feature flags, and dynamic settings.

Covers: Azure App Configuration SDK for Python, Environment Variables, Authentication, Connection String, Entra ID.