Google Cloud Batch
raw JSON → 0.20.0 verified Tue May 12 auth: no python install: verified quickstart: verified
The `google-cloud-batch` Python client library provides programmatic access to the Google Cloud Batch API, a fully managed service for running batch jobs at scale. It simplifies the orchestration of high-performance computing (HPC), AI/ML, and data processing workloads by handling infrastructure provisioning, scheduling, execution, and cleanup. The library is currently at version 0.20.0 and is part of the `google-cloud-python` monorepo, which typically sees frequent releases.
pip install google-cloud-batch Common errors
error ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'google.cloud.batch_v1' ↓
cause The `google-cloud-batch` Python client library or its specific `batch_v1` sub-package is not installed in the active Python environment.
fix
Install the library using pip:
pip install google-cloud-batch error Insufficient permissions to act as the service account ↓
cause The service account specified for the Google Cloud Batch job, or the user submitting the job, lacks the necessary IAM permissions, such as `Service Account User` (`roles/iam.serviceAccountUser`) on the service account or `Batch Agent Reporter` (`roles/batch.agentReporter`) on the project.
fix
Grant the required IAM roles to the service account used by the Batch job and ensure the user has
roles/iam.serviceAccountUser if acting on behalf of a service account. error Insufficient quota ↓
cause The Google Cloud project has exceeded its allocated quota for the requested resources (e.g., Compute Engine CPUs, memory, or GPUs) in the specified region, preventing the Batch job from being created or scheduled.
fix
Request a quota increase for the affected resource and region in the Google Cloud Console, or adjust the job configuration to use fewer resources or a different Google Cloud region.
error Job remains in PENDING or SCHEDULED state indefinitely ↓
cause This is a common symptom indicating that the Batch job cannot start or progress due to underlying issues, frequently including insufficient resource quotas, incorrect network configuration, or high demand/lack of resource availability in the chosen region.
fix
Check Cloud Logging for specific error messages (e.g., 'Insufficient quota', 'VM unresponsive'), verify IAM permissions for the job's service account, ensure network settings allow VM communication, and consider changing the job's region or requesting quota increases if resource availability is limited.
Warnings
breaking As a pre-GA (0.x.x) client library, the API surface and underlying RPCs of `google-cloud-batch` are subject to backward-incompatible changes without a major version bump. This means updates might introduce breaking changes to existing code. ↓
fix Refer to the official changelog (https://cloud.google.com/python/docs/release-notes/all) for each new minor or patch release and review any breaking changes. Pin your dependency versions to specific patch releases to manage updates carefully.
gotcha Authentication with Google Cloud client libraries often relies on Application Default Credentials (ADC). Hardcoding service account key JSON files directly into applications is a common anti-pattern and security risk. ↓
fix For local development, use `gcloud auth application-default login`. For deployment on GCP services (Compute Engine, Cloud Run, Cloud Functions), leverage the attached service account. For external workloads, consider Workload Identity Federation. Do not commit service account keys to version control.
gotcha Batch job creation can fail due to insufficient IAM permissions (e.g., `iam.serviceAccounts.actAs`) for the service account used by the job or due to insufficient resource quotas in the specified region. ↓
fix Ensure the service account creating the job has `roles/batch.jobs.editor` or equivalent. For jobs using custom service accounts, ensure the caller has `iam.serviceAccounts.actAs` permission on that service account. Check Compute Engine quotas in your project and region, and request increases if necessary.
gotcha Jobs might fail if they specify Compute Engine (or custom) VM OS images with outdated kernels. This can lead to unexpected job failures. ↓
fix Always use the latest available Compute Engine VM OS images or ensure custom images are based on up-to-date kernels. Monitor Batch API release notes for known issues related to VM images.
gotcha The client library's internal logging can be verbose and may contain sensitive information. By default, logging events from the library are not handled. ↓
fix Explicitly configure Python's `logging` module to handle logs from `google.cloud.batch`. Be mindful of log destinations and access restrictions if sensitive data might be logged. You can also use the `GOOGLE_SDK_PYTHON_LOGGING_SCOPE` environment variable for simple configuration.
gotcha The client library failed to retrieve a Google Cloud project ID. This often happens if the `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` environment variable is not set, or the project ID is not passed directly to the client. ↓
fix Set the `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` environment variable in your environment, or explicitly provide the project ID as a parameter to the client library constructor or relevant method (e.g., `project='your-gcp-project-id'`).
gotcha Google Cloud client libraries require a target Google Cloud project to operate. Failing to specify the project ID (e.g., via `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` environment variable, `gcloud` configuration, or explicit client constructor arguments) will prevent successful API calls. ↓
fix Ensure the `GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT` environment variable is set. Alternatively, configure `gcloud` with `gcloud config set project [PROJECT_ID]` or pass the `project` argument explicitly to the client constructor, e.g., `batch_client = batch_v1.BatchServiceClient(project='your-project-id')`.
Install compatibility verified last tested: 2026-05-12
python os / libc status wheel install import disk
3.10 alpine (musl) - - 1.75s 68.5M
3.10 slim (glibc) - - 1.02s 66M
3.11 alpine (musl) - - 2.50s 73.2M
3.11 slim (glibc) - - 1.57s 71M
3.12 alpine (musl) - - 2.50s 64.6M
3.12 slim (glibc) - - 1.92s 62M
3.13 alpine (musl) - - 2.40s 64.2M
3.13 slim (glibc) - - 1.92s 62M
3.9 alpine (musl) - - 1.63s 68.6M
3.9 slim (glibc) - - 1.18s 66M
Imports
- BatchServiceClient
from google.cloud import batch_v1 client = batch_v1.BatchServiceClient() - Job
from google.cloud.batch_v1 import types job = types.Job(...)
Quickstart verified last tested: 2026-04-23
import os
from google.cloud import batch_v1
from google.cloud.batch_v1 import types
def create_simple_container_job(
project_id: str,
region: str,
job_name: str,
) -> types.Job:
"""Creates and runs a simple container job in Google Cloud Batch."""
client = batch_v1.BatchServiceClient()
# Define what will be done as part of the job.
runnable = types.Runnable()
runnable.container = types.Runnable.Container(
image_uri="gcr.io/google-containers/busybox",
entrypoint="/bin/sh",
commands=[
"-c",
"echo Hello world! This is task ${BATCH_TASK_INDEX}. This job has a total of ${BATCH_TASK_COUNT} tasks.",
],
)
# Jobs can be divided into tasks. In this case, we have one task group with one task.
task_spec = types.TaskSpec(runnables=[runnable])
task_group = types.TaskGroup(
task_spec=task_spec,
task_count=1,
parallelism=1,
)
# Policies for VM allocation.
# Using a general purpose machine type like 'e2-standard-4'.
# Ensure the specified region supports the machine type.
allocation_policy = types.AllocationPolicy(
instances=[
types.AllocationPolicy.InstancePolicyOrTemplate(
policy=types.AllocationPolicy.InstancePolicy(machine_type="e2-standard-4")
),
],
location=types.AllocationPolicy.LocationPolicy(
allowed_locations=[f"regions/{region}"]
)
)
# Define the job itself.
job = types.Job(
name=job_name, # Name needs to be unique per project and region
task_groups=[task_group],
allocation_policy=allocation_policy,
labels={
"environment": "dev",
"framework": "batch-quickstart",
},
logs_policy=types.LogsPolicy(destination=types.LogsPolicy.Destination.CLOUD_LOGGING),
)
request = types.CreateJobRequest(
parent=f"projects/{project_id}/locations/{region}",
job_id=job_name,
job=job,
)
response = client.create_job(request=request)
print(f"Job created: {response.name}")
return response
if __name__ == "__main__":
project_id = os.environ.get("GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT", "your-gcp-project-id")
region = os.environ.get("GOOGLE_CLOUD_REGION", "us-central1") # Choose an available region
job_id = os.environ.get("BATCH_JOB_ID", "my-sample-batch-job-1") # Unique ID for the job
if project_id == "your-gcp-project-id":
print("Please set the GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT environment variable or replace 'your-gcp-project-id'.")
elif region == "us-central1":
print("Consider setting the GOOGLE_CLOUD_REGION environment variable or choose a different region.")
else:
try:
created_job = create_simple_container_job(project_id, region, job_id)
print(f"Monitor job in console: https://console.cloud.google.com/batch/jobs/{region}/{job_id}?project={project_id}")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error creating job: {e}")
print("Ensure the Batch API is enabled and your service account has 'Batch Job Editor' (roles/batch.jobs.editor) or equivalent permissions.")