February 2, 2026
Python, no YAML, lots of yapping
Show HN: Stelvio – Ship Python to AWS
No-YAML cloud magic or same old trick? HN cheers, nitpicks, and demands receipts
TLDR: A new tool called Stelvio lets developers set up and deploy cloud functions using plain Python, skipping complex config files. The community loves the simplicity but clashes over whether it’s truly new versus existing tools like CDK and Pulumi, debating convenience, semantics, and real-world advantages.
Stelvio shows up on Hacker News promising “Infrastructure as Python” — write cloud setup in regular Python, skip the scary config files, and push functions to Amazon’s cloud. The author jumps in with “I’m here for questions,” and the crowd wastes no time. Early fans gush, calling it “pretty sweet,” while others clutch pearls over the wording: are we really “shipping Python,” or just writing cloud setup with Python? One commenter delivers the pedant perfect: “Nitpick — you’re doing infrastructure-as-code, not shipping code.” Ouch.
Then the comparison cops arrive. If Amazon’s own CDK and Pulumi already let you do this in Python, what’s new here? The thread turns into a friendly court case: supporters argue Stelvio’s “smart defaults,” auto-permissions, and local dev runner are the vibes they want; skeptics want proof it’s more than marketing. One fan points to a trend — tools like Modal and Ray make cloud feel “Python-first,” and they’re here for it.
Cue the jokes: people quip about escaping “YAML therapy,” praise that their IDE (coding tool) “just works,” and poke fun at the title’s semantics. The strongest split: convenience and developer joy vs. déjà vu and precise definitions. In short, it’s hype vs. homework, with the author fielding the fire.
Key Points
- •Stelvio offers Infrastructure as Python, avoiding YAML and using smart defaults.
- •It enables deploying Python functions to AWS Lambda and linking resources like S3 with automatic permissions.
- •Developers can use familiar Python tooling (IDE, linter, type checker) with Stelvio.
- •The stlv dev command runs Lambda code locally while infrastructure remains in AWS to avoid frequent redeploys.
- •Marketing claims include getting a first Lambda function deployed in under five minutes.