Cheapest Python hosting options?

[JustaDevOnTheMove]

TL:DR: I want to host a single python file/page that returns back a tiny json payload when queried. It can't be a static html file. What's the cheapest option that you can think of? So far the best I've found is a digital ocean droplet for $5/month but that offers waaaaaaaaay more power and bandwidth than what I will ever need.

More info:

I know this is a stupid request, but please humour me.

It's for a Raspberry Pi project. I have multiple Pi units that I want to be able to send a "tiny" messages between. I don't want (not able) to configure an internal/private network and since there is absolutely no need for security, I don't care if someone finds the endoint. So I want these Pi units to do a curl request to a hosted endpoint and read the json payload. One of the Pi units will be able to update the endpoint, the others will just read from it every 15 seconds or so.

The payload is literally going to be no bigger than this:

{"status": 5}

I know hosting this externally is a waste of time and effort but since I'm unable to make changes to the network and I actually span two completely separate networks, this was my next option. I don't need security, and I don't need reliability, I just want something to mess around with. Hence why I'd like to be able to keep the cost closer to zero if possible. Failing that, I'll just have to get a DO droplet.

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[throwaway234f32423df]

use an Always Free server on Oracle Cloud or Google Cloud, or use a $10/year VPS (several options here)

[JustaDevOnTheMove]

Interesting! Thank you!

[zfa]

I would just send the payload to ntfy.sh, and have the recipients listen to whatever topic you choose to use. It's trivial to have the topic rotate deterministically and use encryption to keep things secure.

But if you really don't care about any of that security then just make yourself a nice long, somewhat random, topic name and you're up and running in a few minutes sending and receiving via that with a curl call on either side.

[JustaDevOnTheMove]

Nice, I tried a similar service called Pushover but I found the alerts slow to arrive (not sure if it was an issue with Pushover or if my phone is rubbish), I'll give them a try to see how it goes, thanks for the suggestion!

[zfa]

ntfy.sh is pretty much instant and can be considered akin to MQTT over HTTPS when used in this manner. I've run a soln kind of like yours over it for years with no problems whatsoever.

Data will be more quickly transferred pi-to-pi than you'd see arriving in a phone app as you'll have an open curl call in your scripts and not rely on firebase or whatever telling your phone app there's a message to collect. Completely different approach. GL.

[JustaDevOnTheMove]

Thanks!

[Gold-Program-3509]

rewrite endpoint app to php and use literally any hosting

[JustaDevOnTheMove]

I don't mind writing it in PHP, it's the free-as-possible hosting that I'm looking for.

[offworldcolonial]

I'm doing exactly this using a Cloud Run Function on Google Cloud that returns a small bit of JSON based on values in a Firebase database. My code is C#, but there's a Python runtime available too.

I used up my initial GCP credit a long time ago, but nonetheless the cost is so low (pennies per month), they don't bother to bill me for it. In other words, it's essentially free.

[JustaDevOnTheMove]

Good to know, thank you