The Snowflake Connector for Python is an incredibly useful tool for developers looking to connect their Python applications to the Snowflake data platform. In this article, we’re going to break down how to install, build, and use this connector in a user-friendly manner. If you ever find yourself stuck, we’ll also provide some troubleshooting tips. Let’s dive in!

What is the Snowflake Connector for Python?

This package allows you to develop Python applications that can connect to Snowflake and perform all the standard operations you’d expect. Think of it as your bridge to easily access and manipulate your data stored in Snowflake without needing to rely on JDBC or ODBC drivers.

Installation Steps

To get started, you need to install Python 3.8.0 or higher. Below are the simple steps to install the connector:

• Open your terminal or command prompt.
• Run the following command to install the connector using pip:

pip install snowflake-connector-python

• You’re all set! The connector is now installed and ready for use.

Building the Connector Locally

If you want to build the connector from source, follow these easy steps:

• Clone the repository:

git clone git@github.com:snowflakedb/snowflake-connector-python.git

• Navigate to the directory:

cd snowflake-connector-python

• Upgrade necessary packages:

python -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel build

• Build the wheel:

python -m build --wheel .

• Look for the built wheel package in the .dist directory.

Using Docker for Building

If you prefer using Docker, you can utilize the provided Docker build script. Simply run:

cibuild_docker.sh

The built wheel files will be found in the dist/repaired_wheels directory. You can target specific Python versions like so:

cibuild_docker.sh 3.8 3.9

Code Hygiene and Utilities

It’s essential to maintain clean and efficient code, and Snowflake’s connector offers several built-in utilities for achieving this. You can leverage tools like:

• fix_lint: Checks for lint issues; can be set to run on each commit.
• coverage: Combines generated coverage data files.
• flake8: (Deprecated) Previously used to run flake8 checks.

Disabling Telemetry

By default, the Snowflake Connector collects telemetry data to improve the product. To disable this feature, add the following session parameter when establishing a connection:

CLIENT_TELEMETRY_ENABLED: False

Here’s an example connection block:

import snowflake.connector
conn = snowflake.connector.connect(
    user='XXXX',
    password='XXXX',
    account='XXXX',
    session_parameters={
        'CLIENT_TELEMETRY_ENABLED': False,
    }
)

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues while using the Snowflake Connector, here are some common troubleshooting ideas:

• Ensure Python Version Compatibility: Make sure you have Python 3.8.0 or higher installed.
• Check Your Connection Parameters: Verify that your user credentials and account details are correct.
• Disable Telemetry if Needed: If you are encountering errors, try disabling the telemetry collection as described above.

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Conclusion

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