Use FastAPI's Depends() anywhere - even outside FastAPI routes
Installation: pip install fastapi-injectable
Documentation: https://fastapi-injectable.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
from typing import Annotated
from fastapi import Depends
from fastapi_injectable import injectable
class Database:
def query(self) -> str:
return "data"
def get_db() -> Database:
return Database()
@injectable
def process_data(db: Annotated[Database, Depends(get_db)]) -> str:
return db.query()
# Use it anywhere!
result = process_data()
print(result) # Output: 'data'
- Flexible Injection: Use decorators, function wrappers, or utility functions.
- Full Async Support: Works with both sync and async code.
- Resource Management: Built-in cleanup for dependencies.
- Dependency Caching: Optional caching for better performance.
- Graceful Shutdown: Automatic cleanup on program exit.
- Event Loop Management: Control the event loop to ensure the objects created by
fastapi-injectable
are executed in the right loop.
fastapi-injectable
is a lightweight package that enables seamless use of FastAPI's dependency injection system outside of route handlers. It solves a common pain point where developers need to reuse FastAPI dependencies in non-FastAPI contexts like CLI tools, background tasks, or scheduled jobs, allowing you to use FastAPI's dependency injection system anywhere!
- Python
3.10
or higher - FastAPI
0.112.4
or higher
fastapi-injectable
provides several powerful ways to use FastAPI's dependency injection outside of route handlers. Let's explore the key usage patterns with practical examples.
The most basic way to use dependency injection is through the @injectable
decorator. This allows you to use FastAPI's Depends
in any function, not just route handlers.
from typing import Annotated
from fastapi import Depends
from fastapi_injectable.decorator import injectable
class Database:
def __init__(self) -> None:
pass
def query(self) -> str:
return "data"
# Define your dependencies
def get_database():
return Database()
# Use dependencies in any function
@injectable
def process_data(db: Annotated[Database, Depends(get_database)]):
return db.query()
# Call it like a normal function
result = process_data()
print(result) # Output: 'data'
The function-based approach provides an alternative way to use dependency injection without decorators. This can be useful when you need more flexibility or want to avoid modifying the original function.
Here's how to use it:
from fastapi_injectable.util import get_injected_obj
class Database:
def __init__(self) -> None:
pass
def query(self) -> str:
return "data"
def process_data(db: Annotated[Database, Depends(get_database)]):
return db.query()
# Get injected instance without decorator
result = get_injected_obj(process_data)
print(result) # Output: 'data'
When working with generator dependencies that require cleanup (like database connections or file handles), fastapi-injectable
provides built-in support for controlling dependency lifecycles and proper resource management with error handling.
Here's an example showing how to work with generator dependencies:
from collections.abc import Generator
from fastapi_injectable.util import cleanup_all_exit_stacks, cleanup_exit_stack_of_func
from fastapi_injectable.exception import DependencyCleanupError
class Database:
def __init__(self) -> None:
self.closed = False
def query(self) -> str:
return "data"
def close(self) -> None:
self.closed = True
class Machine:
def __init__(self, db: Database) -> None:
self.db = db
def get_database() -> Generator[Database, None, None]:
db = Database()
yield db
db.close()
@injectable
def get_machine(db: Annotated[Database, Depends(get_database)]):
machine = Machine(db)
return machine
# Use the function
machine = get_machine()
# Option #1: Silent cleanup when done for a single decorated function (logs errors but doesn't raise)
assert machine.db.closed is False
await cleanup_exit_stack_of_func(get_machine)
assert machine.db.closed is True
# Option #2: Strict cleanup with error handling
try:
await cleanup_exit_stack_of_func(get_machine, raise_exception=True)
except DependencyCleanupError as e:
print(f"Cleanup failed: {e}")
# Option #3: If you don't care about the other injectable functions,
# just use the cleanup_all_exit_stacks() to cleanup all at once.
assert machine.db.closed is False
await cleanup_all_exit_stacks() # can still pass the raise_exception=True to raise the error if you want
assert machine.db.closed is True
fastapi-injectable
provides full support for both synchronous and asynchronous dependencies, allowing you to mix and match them as needed. You can freely use async dependencies in sync functions and vice versa. For cases where you need to run async code in a synchronous context, we provide the run_coroutine_sync
utility function.
from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator
class AsyncDatabase:
def __init__(self) -> None:
self.closed = False
async def query(self) -> str:
return "data"
async def close(self) -> None:
self.closed = True
async def get_async_database() -> AsyncGenerator[AsyncDatabase, None]:
db = AsyncDatabase()
yield db
await db.close()
@injectable
async def async_process_data(db: Annotated[AsyncDatabase, Depends(get_async_database)]):
return await db.query()
# Use it with async/await
result = await async_process_data()
print(result) # Output: 'data'
# In sync func, you can still get the result by using `run_coroutine_sync()`
from fastapi_injectable.concurrency import run_coroutine_sync
result = run_coroutine_sync(async_process_data())
print(result) # Output: 'data'
By default, fastapi-injectable
caches dependency instances to improve performance and maintain consistency. This means when you request a dependency multiple times, you'll get the same instance back.
You can control this behavior using the use_cache
parameter in the @injectable
decorator:
use_cache=True
(default): Dependencies are cached and reuseduse_cache=False
: New instances are created for each dependency request
Using use_cache=False
is particularly useful when:
- You need fresh instances for each request
- You want to avoid sharing state between different parts of your application
- You're dealing with stateful dependencies that shouldn't be reused
from typing import Annotated
from fastapi import Depends
from fastapi_injectable.decorator import injectable
class Mayor:
pass
class Capital:
def __init__(self, mayor: Mayor) -> None:
self.mayor = mayor
class Country:
def __init__(self, capital: Capital) -> None:
self.capital = capital
def get_mayor() -> Mayor:
return Mayor()
def get_capital(mayor: Annotated[Mayor, Depends(get_mayor)]) -> Capital:
return Capital(mayor)
@injectable
def get_country(capital: Annotated[Capital, Depends(get_capital)]) -> Country:
return Country(capital)
# With caching (default), all instances share the same dependencies
country_1 = get_country()
country_2 = get_country()
country_3 = get_country()
assert country_1.capital is country_2.capital is country_3.capital
assert country_1.capital.mayor is country_2.capital.mayor is country_3.capital.mayor
# Without caching, new instances are created each time
@injectable(use_cache=False)
def get_country(capital: Annotated[Capital, Depends(get_capital)]) -> Country:
return Country(capital)
country_1 = get_country()
country_2 = get_country()
country_3 = get_country()
assert country_1.capital is not country_2.capital is not country_3.capital
assert country_1.capital.mayor is not country_2.capital.mayor is not country_3.capital.mayor
fastapi-injectable
includes a powerful loop management system to handle asynchronous code execution in different contexts. This is particularly useful when working with async code in synchronous environments or when you need controlled event loop execution.
from fastapi_injectable.concurrency import loop_manager, run_coroutine_sync
# Configure loop strategy
# Options: "current" (default), "isolated", or "background_thread"
loop_manager.set_loop_strategy("isolated")
loop = loop_manager.get_loop() # This is useful if you have to aware of the loop, so that you can make sure the objects created by fastapi-injectable are executed in the right loop.
# asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
# loop.run_until_complete(your_coro)
# The run_coroutine_sync function uses loop_manager internally
# This works regardless of what thread or context you're in
result = run_coroutine_sync(async_process_data())
Loop strategies explained:
-
current
(default): Uses the current thread's event loop. This is the simplest option and meets most needs.- Limitation: Fails if no loop is running in the current thread.
- Perfect when your code runs in synchronous functions within the main thread with a runnable event loop.
# Default strategy - uses the current thread's event loop # Simple and efficient for most use cases import asyncio my_loop = asyncio.get_event_loop() # Or # my_loop = asyncio.new_event_loop() # asyncio.set_event_loop(my_loop) loop_manager.set_loop_strategy("current") assert my_loop is loop_manager.get_loop() # This will work if you're in the main thread with a running event loop result = run_coroutine_sync(async_process_data())
-
isolated
: Creates a separate isolated loop.- Benefit: Works even when no loop is running in the current thread.
- Ideal when you need control over the loop lifecycle or need to ensure all injected objects come from the same event loop (important for objects like
aiohttp.ClientSession
that must execute in the same loop where they were instantiated).
# Isolated strategy - creates a dedicated event loop # Great for scripts, CLI tools, or when you need loop lifecycle control import asyncio from fastapi_injectable import get_injected_obj async def get_aiohttp_session(): return aiohttp.ClientSession() # Make sure the loop strategy is set to "isolated" before any injected objects are created loop_manager.set_loop_strategy("isolated") aiohttp_session = get_injected_obj(get_aiohttp_session) original_loop = asyncio.get_event_loop() loop = loop_manager.get_loop() assert original_loop is not loop original_loop.run_until_complete(aiohttp_session.get("https://www.google.com")) # This will raise an error because the aiohttp_session is created in the loop_manager's loop, not the original_loop. loop.run_until_complete(aiohttp_session.get("https://www.google.com")) # This will work since the aiohttp_session is created in the loop_manager's loop and executed in the same loop.
-
background_thread
: Runs a dedicated background thread with its own event loop.- Best for: Long-running applications where you need to run async code from sync contexts.
- Benefit: Allows async code to run from any thread without blocking.
- Perfect when you're uncertain about your environment's event loop availability and don't use objects that assume they run in the same event loop.
# Background thread strategy - runs a daemon thread with a dedicated loop # Ideal for long-running applications or uncertain environments loop_manager.set_loop_strategy("background_thread") # This will work from any thread, even without a running event loop # The background thread handles all async operations result = run_coroutine_sync(async_process_data())
fastapi-injectable
provides a simple way to configure logging for the package. This is useful for debugging or monitoring the package's behavior.
import logging
from fastapi_injectable import configure_logging
# Basic configuration with default format
configure_logging(level=logging.DEBUG)
# Custom format
configure_logging(
level=logging.INFO,
format_="%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s"
)
# Custom handler
file_handler = logging.FileHandler("fastapi_injectable.log")
configure_logging(level=logging.WARNING, handler=file_handler)
If you want to ensure proper cleanup when the program exits, you can register cleanup functions with error handling:
import signal
from fastapi_injectable import setup_graceful_shutdown
from fastapi_injectable.exception import DependencyCleanupError
# Option #1: Silent cleanup (default)
# it handles SIGTERM and SIGINT, and will logs errors if any exceptions are raised during cleanup
setup_graceful_shutdown()
# Option #2: Strict cleanup that raises errors
# it handles SIGTERM and SIGINT, and will raise DependencyCleanupError if any exceptions are raised during cleanup
setup_graceful_shutdown(raise_exception=True)
# Option #3: Pass custom signals to handle
# it handles the custom signals, and will raise DependencyCleanupError if any exceptions are raised during cleanup
setup_graceful_shutdown(
signals=[signal.SIGTERM],
raise_exception=True
)
If your dependencies need access to the FastAPI app state (like database connections or other services), you can register your app with fastapi-injectable
:
from fastapi import FastAPI, Request, Depends
from fastapi_injectable import injectable, register_app
from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncEngine, AsyncSession
# Define your dependencies that need app state access
def get_db_engine(*, request: Request) -> AsyncEngine:
return request.app.state.db_engine
DBEngine = Annotated[AsyncEngine, Depends(get_db_engine)]
async def get_db(*, db_engine: DBEngine) -> AsyncIterator[AsyncSession]:
session = async_sessionmaker(db_engine)
async with session.begin() as session:
yield session
DB = Annotated[AsyncSession, Depends(get_db)]
# Register your app during startup
@contextlib.asynccontextmanager
async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
# Register the app so dependencies can access app.state
await register_app(app)
# Setup your app state
app.state.db_engine = create_async_engine("postgresql+asyncpg://...")
yield
await app.state.db_engine.dispose()
app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
# Now you can use dependencies that need app state anywhere!
@injectable
async def process_data(db: DB) -> str:
result = await db.execute(...)
return result
# Use it in background tasks, CLI tools, etc.
result = await process_data()
This is particularly useful when:
- Your dependencies need access to shared services in
app.state
- You're using third-party libraries that call your code internally
- You want to maintain a single source of truth for long-running services
If the basic examples don't cover your needs, check out our test files - they're basically a cookbook of real-world scenarios:
1. test_injectable.py
- Shows all possible combinations of:
- Sync/async functions
- Decorator vs function wrapping
- Caching vs no caching
2. test_integration.py
- Demonstrates:
- Resource cleanup
- Generator dependencies
- Mixed sync/async dependencies
- Multiple dependency chains
These test cases mirror common development patterns you'll encounter. They show how to handle complex dependency trees, resource management, and mixing sync/async code - stuff you'll actually use in production.
The test files are written to be self-documenting, so browsing through them will give you practical examples for most scenarios you'll face in your codebase.
We've collected some real-world examples of using fastapi-injectable
in various scenarios:
This example demonstrates several key patterns for using dependency injection in background workers:
-
Fresh Dependencies per Message:
- Each message gets a fresh set of dependencies through
_init_as_consumer()
- This ensures clean state for each message, similar to how FastAPI handles HTTP requests
- Each message gets a fresh set of dependencies through
-
Proper Resource Management:
- Dependencies with cleanup needs (like database connections) are properly handled
- Cleanup code in generators runs when
cleanup_exit_stack_of_func()
is called - Cache is cleared between messages to prevent memory leaks
-
Graceful Shutdown:
setup_graceful_shutdown()
ensures resources are cleaned up on program termination- Handles both SIGTERM and SIGINT signals
Please refer to the Real-world Examples for more details.
- Why would I need this package?
- Why not directly use other DI packages like Dependency Injector or FastDepends?
- Can I use it with existing FastAPI dependencies?
- Does it work with all FastAPI dependency types?
- What happens to dependency cleanup in long-running processes?
- Can I mix sync and async dependencies?
- Are type hints fully supported for
injectable()
andget_injected_obj()
? - How does caching work?
- Is it production-ready?
A: If your project heavily relies on FastAPI's Depends()
as the sole DI system and you don't want to introduce additional DI packages (like Dependency Injector or FastDepends), fastapi-injectable
is your friend.
It allows you to reuse your existing FastAPI built-in DI system anywhere, without the need to refactor your entire codebase or maintain multiple DI systems.
Life is short, keep it simple!
A: You absolutely can if your situation allows you to:
- Modify large amounts of existing code that uses
Depends()
- Maintain multiple DI systems in your project
fastapi-injectable
focuses solely on extending FastAPI's built-in Depends()
beyond routes. We're not trying to be another DI system - we're making the existing one more useful!
For projects with hundreds of dependency functions (especially with nested dependencies), this approach is more intuitive and requires minimal changes to your existing code.
Choose what works best for you!
A: Absolutely! That's exactly what this package was built for! fastapi-injectable
was created to seamlessly work with FastAPI's dependency injection system, allowing you to reuse your existing Depends()
code anywhere - not just in routes.
Focus on what matters instead of worrying about how to get your existing dependencies outside of FastAPI routes!
A: Yes! It supports:
- Regular dependencies
- Generator dependencies (with cleanup utility functions)
- Async dependencies
- Sync dependencies
- Nested dependencies (dependencies with sub-dependencies)
A: You have three options:
- Manual cleanup per function:
await cleanup_exit_stack_of_func(your_func)
- Cleanup everything:
await cleanup_all_exit_stacks()
- Automatic cleanup on shutdown:
setup_graceful_shutdown()
A: Yes! You can freely mix them. For running async code in sync contexts, use the provided run_coroutine_sync()
utility.
A: Currently, type hint support is a work in progress. However, this doesn't affect the core benefits of the package (seamlessly reusing and maintaining consistency in your FastAPI DI system).
We're actively working on improving type hint support, and we'll have good news on this front soon! In the meantime, enjoy the elegant and clean solution that fastapi-injectable
provides.
A: By default, dependencies are cached like in FastAPI routes. You can disable caching with @injectable(use_cache=False)
if you need fresh instances.
A: Yes! The package has:
- 100% test coverage
- Type checking with
mypy
- Comprehensive error handling
- Production use cases documented
Contributions are very welcome. To learn more, see the Contributor Guide.
Distributed under the terms of the MIT license,
fastapi-injectable
is free and open source software.
If you encounter any problems, please file an issue along with a detailed description.
- This project was generated from @cjolowicz's Hypermodern Python Cookiecutter template.
- Thanks to @barapa's initiation, his work inspires me to create this project.
- [Issue] Using Depends() in other functions, outside the endpoint path operation!
- [Discussion] Using Depends() in other functions, outside the endpoint path operation!
My blog posts about the prototype of this project: