This topic describes how a Python client uses SDK for Python to connect to the default endpoint of Message Queue for Apache Kafka in a virtual private cloud (VPC) and send and subscribe to messages.

Prerequisites

Install the Python library

Run the following command to install the Python library: 

        pip install kafka-python

Preparations

Create a Message Queue for Apache Kafka configuration file named setting.py. 
kafka_setting = {
    'bootstrap_servers': ["XXX", "XXX", "XXX"],
    'topic_name': 'XXX',
    'consumer_id': 'XXX'
}
Parameter Description
bootstrap_servers The default endpoint. You can obtain the default endpoint in the Basic Information section of the Instance Details page in the Message Queue for Apache Kafka console.
topic_name The name of the topic. You can obtain the name of the topic on the Topics page in the Message Queue for Apache Kafka console.
consumer_id The name of the consumer group. You can obtain the name of the consumer group on the Consumer Groups page in the Message Queue for Apache Kafka console.

Send messages

  1. Create a message sender named aliyun_kafka_producer.py. 
    #! /usr/bin/env python
# encoding: utf-8

import socket
from kafka import KafkaProducer
from kafka.errors import KafkaError
import setting

conf = setting.kafka_setting

print conf


producer = KafkaProducer(bootstrap_servers=conf['bootstrap_servers'],
                        api_version = (0,10),
                        retries=5)

partitions = producer.partitions_for(conf['topic_name'])
print 'partition in topic: %s' % partitions

try:
    future = producer.send(conf['topic_name'], 'hello aliyun-kafka!')
    future.get()
    print 'send message succeed.'
except KafkaError, e:
    print 'send message failed.'
    print e
  2. Run the following command to send messages: 
    python aliyun_kafka_producer.py

Subscribe to messages

  1. Create a subscription program named aliyun_kafka_consumer.py. 
    #! /usr/bin/env python
# encoding: utf-8

import socket
from kafka import KafkaConsumer
from kafka.errors import KafkaError
import setting

conf = setting.kafka_setting

consumer = KafkaConsumer(bootstrap_servers=conf['bootstrap_servers'],
                        group_id=conf['consumer_id'],
                        api_version = (0,10,2), 
                        session_timeout_ms=25000,
                        max_poll_records=100,
                        fetch_max_bytes=1 * 1024 * 1024)

print 'consumer start to consuming...'
consumer.subscribe((conf['topic_name'], ))
for message in consumer:
    print message.topic, message.offset, message.key, message.value, message.value, message.partition
  2. Run the following command to consume messages: 
    python aliyun_kafka_consumer.py