Solving the "certbot cannot import name 'appengine' from 'urllib3.contrib'" Error
The Problem:
You're trying to use certbot to obtain SSL certificates for your website, but you encounter an error message saying "cannot import name 'appengine' from 'urllib3.contrib'". This error signifies that certbot is attempting to use a deprecated module (urllib3.contrib.appengine) that is no longer available.
The Scenario:
Let's say you're trying to secure your website hosted on Google App Engine. You execute the certbot command to obtain certificates:
certbot certonly --standalone -d example.com
This command should initiate the certificate issuance process. However, instead of proceeding, you encounter the error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/certbot", line 11, in <module>
sys.exit(main())
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/__main__.py", line 117, in main
return cli.main()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/cli.py", line 102, in main
return config.handle_command()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/config.py", line 298, in handle_command
return command.perform()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/command.py", line 142, in perform
return self.init_and_run()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/command.py", line 117, in init_and_run
self._prepare_for_operation()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/command.py", line 122, in _prepare_for_operation
self.prepare()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/plugins/standalone.py", line 133, in prepare
from certbot.plugins import dns_google_cloud
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/plugins/dns_google_cloud.py", line 25, in <module>
from certbot.plugins import dns_google_cloud_common
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/plugins/dns_google_cloud_common.py", line 22, in <module>
from certbot.util import get_os_info
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/util.py", line 22, in <module>
from certbot import errors
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/errors.py", line 25, in <module>
from certbot.compat import os
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/compat/__init__.py", line 13, in <module>
from . import os as os_compat
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/certbot/compat/os.py", line 10, in <module>
from urllib3.contrib.appengine import AppEnginePlatform
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/urllib3/contrib/appengine/__init__.py", line 1, in <module>
from . import appengine
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/urllib3/contrib/appengine/appengine.py", line 15, in <module>
from urllib3.contrib import appengine
ImportError: cannot import name 'appengine' from 'urllib3.contrib' (unknown location)
Understanding the Issue:
This error arises because certbot, or a dependency it relies on, is trying to access the appengine module from the urllib3.contrib package. However, this module has been deprecated and removed from the urllib3 library.
The Solution:
The most straightforward solution is to upgrade urllib3 to a newer version that doesn't contain the deprecated appengine module. This can usually be done by running:
pip install --upgrade urllib3
Additional Insights:
- Deprecated Modules: It's important to be aware of deprecated modules in Python libraries. These modules might be removed in future versions, leading to compatibility issues.
- Upgrade Dependencies: Regularly upgrading your Python dependencies can ensure you're using the latest and most secure versions. This can prevent encountering issues related to outdated modules.
- Troubleshooting: When you encounter errors related to imports, it's often helpful to look at the package documentation and check for changes to the package structure. You can also use tools like
pip listto list your installed packages and versions.
By understanding the issue and implementing the solution, you can overcome this error and successfully obtain SSL certificates for your website.
Remember to always refer to the official documentation of certbot and urllib3 for the latest information and best practices.
