Google Cloud Platform App Engine - installing a custom runtime/ moving to GKE

[prakash-p-kumar]

I'm using google app-engine (standard environment) in GCP with python2.7 interpreter. I want to use a different python compiler. Specifically, I want to use cython [https://github.com/cython/cython]

Can I please know if app-engine (standard environment) can support custom runtimes ?

I understand that app-engine (flexible environment) can support custom runtimes with the help of docker images.

If app-engine (standard environment) cannot support cython, is moving an app engine python2.7 app to GKE (kubernetes engine) a good idea ?
Can a google app engine application be moved to gke as stateless rest based services ?

Thanks a lot for your answers !

[anjelisa · Accepted solution]

Hi @prakash-p-kumar,

Welcome to Google Cloud Community!

Only flexible env of app engine can support custom runtimes. According to this document:

To create a custom runtime you must:

• Provide an app.yaml file that describes your application's runtime configuration to App Engine.
• Add a Dockerfile that internally configures the runtime environment.
• Ensure that your code follows some basic rules.

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[prakash-p-kumar]

Hi @anjelisa , Thanks a lot for answering question.

[prakash-p-kumar]

Hi @anjelisa 
Can I please know, if I can deploy docker images to Google App Engine Standard Environment as well ?

I will compile the python code locally and create a binary and build a docker image using that binary.
Can I deploy that docker image in App Engine Standard environment ?