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Aspire 13 Makes Python a First-Class Workload with .NET and JavaScript
Microsoft has added official Python support to Aspire 13, expanding the platform beyond .NET and JavaScript for building and running distributed apps.
Documented today in a Microsoft DevBlogs post, the update introduces a new Aspire.Hosting.Python package that lets developers register Python services in an AppHost and manage them like any other Aspire resource.
Aspire 13, announced last month with a name change (from .NET Aspire), brings Python into the core orchestration model. Python apps can now be added as native Aspire resources rather than being handled externally. Instead, they can be added, named, referenced, and discovered through the same AppHost patterns used for .NET services.
The package adds first-class resource helpers for different Python styles, including scripts, modules, and executables. For web services, Aspire provides an ASGI-friendly option that targets Uvicorn-based apps such as FastAPI or Starlette, with standard Aspire endpoint and health-check integration.
Aspire can now create and manage a Python virtual environment automatically when it detects requirements.txt or pyproject.toml, keeping local runs consistent. Dependency installs are integrated into the run pipeline, with support for both uv and pip depending on project setup.
On the inner-loop side, Aspire's tooling recognizes Python services for debugging in VS Code and helps generate launch configuration automatically. Aspire also extends its developer HTTPS certificate trust to Python services, so polyglot apps can communicate securely in local runs without extra manual certificate work.
Microsoft said: "Python applications in Aspire support full breakpoint debugging in Visual Studio Code with no additional configuration required. The Aspire VS Code extension automatically recognizes the Python Debugger VS Code extension and generates launch configurations for your Python services. Simply set breakpoints in your Python code and start debugging."
[Click on image for larger view.] Debugging Python in Aspire (source: Microsoft).
Python services participate in Aspire service discovery, receiving simplified environment variables for calling other resources. When a Python service references a database resource, Aspire provides connection details in forms that common Python libraries can consume. For production, Aspire publishing now generates Dockerfiles for Python services automatically, based on detected Python versions and dependency manager choices.
Microsoft is also shipping a new Python starter template that pairs a FastAPI backend with a modern JavaScript front end and standard Aspire resources, showing an end-to-end Python-in-Aspire workflow.
About the Author
David Ramel is an editor and writer at Converge 360.