celery — Claude Code skill: Python task queue

---
name: celery
description: Distributed task queue system for Python enabling asynchronous execution of background jobs, scheduled tasks, and workflows across multiple workers with Django, Flask, and FastAPI integration.
user-invocable: false
disable-model-invocation: true
progressive_disclosure:
  entry_point:
    - summary
    - when_to_use
    - quick_start
  sections:
    - core_concepts
    - broker_setup
    - task_basics
    - task_execution
    - task_routing
    - periodic_tasks
    - workflows
    - error_handling
    - monitoring
    - framework_integration
    - testing
    - production_patterns
    - performance
    - use_cases
    - alternatives
    - best_practices
    - troubleshooting
---

# Celery: Distributed Task Queue

## Summary
Celery is a distributed task queue system for Python that enables asynchronous execution of background jobs across multiple workers. It supports scheduling, retries, task workflows, and integrates seamlessly with Django, Flask, and FastAPI.

## When to Use
- **Background Processing**: Offload long-running operations (email, file processing, reports)
- **Scheduled Tasks**: Cron-like periodic jobs (cleanup, backups, data sync)
- **Distributed Computing**: Process tasks across multiple workers/servers
- **Async Workflows**: Chain, group, and orchestrate complex task dependencies
- **Real-time Processing**: Handle webhooks, notifications, data pipelines
- **Load Balancing**: Distribute CPU-intensive work across workers

**Don't Use When**:
- Simple async I/O (use `asyncio` instead)
- Real-time request/response (use async web frameworks)
- Sub-second latency required (use in-memory queues)
- Minimal infrastructure (use simpler alternatives like RQ or Huey)

## Quick Start

### Installation
```bash
# Basic installation
pip install celery

# With Redis broker
pip install celery[redis]

# With RabbitMQ broker
pip install celery[amqp]

# Full batteries (recommended)
pip install celery[redis,msgpack,auth,cassandra,elasticsearch,s3,sqs]
```

### Basic Setup
```python
# celery_app.py
from celery import Celery

# Create Celery app with Redis broker
app = Celery(
    'myapp',
    broker='redis://localhost:6379/0',
    backend='redis://localhost:6379/1'
)

# Configuration
app.conf.update(
    task_serializer='json',
    accept_content=['json'],
    result_serializer='json',
    timezone='UTC',
    enable_utc=True,
)

# Define a task
@app.task
def add(x, y):
    return x + y

@app.task
def send_email(to, subject, body):
    # Simulate email sending
    import time
    time.sleep(2)
    print(f"Email sent to {to}: {subject}")
    return {"status": "sent", "to": to}
```

### Running Workers
```bash
# Start worker
celery -A celery_app worker --loglevel=info

# Multiple workers with concurrency
celery -A celery_app worker --concurrency=4 --loglevel=info

# Named worker for specific queues
celery -A celery_app worker -Q emails,reports --loglevel=info
```

### Executing Tasks
```python
# Call task asynchronously
result = add.delay(4, 6)

# Wait for result
print(result.get(timeout=10))  # 10

# Apply async with options
result = send_email.apply_async(
    args=['[email protected]', 'Hello', 'Welcome!'],
    countdown=60  # Execute after 60 seconds
)

# Check task state
print(result.status)  # PENDING, STARTED, SUCCESS, FAILURE
```

---

## Core Concepts

### Architecture Components

**Broker**: Message queue that stores tasks
- Redis (recommended for most use cases)
- RabbitMQ (enterprise-grade, complex)
- Amazon SQS (serverless, AWS-native)

**Workers**: Processes that execute tasks
- Pull tasks from broker
- Execute task code
- Store results in backend

**Result Backend**: Storage for task results
- Redis (fast, in-memory)
- Database (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- S3 (large results)
- Cassandra, Elasticsearch (specialized)

**Beat Scheduler**: Periodic task scheduler
- Cron-like scheduling
- Interval-based tasks
- Stores schedule in database or file

### Task States
```
PENDING → STARTED → SUCCESS
                 → RETRY → SUCCESS
                 → FAILURE
```

- **PENDING**: Task waiting in queue
- **STARTED**: Worker picked up task
- **SUCCESS**: Task completed successfully
- **FAILURE**: Task raised exception
- **RETRY**: Task will retry after failure
- **REVOKED**: Task cancelled before execution

---

## Broker Setup

### Redis Configuration
```python
# celery_config.py
broker_url = 'redis://localhost:6379/0'
result_backend = 'redis://localhost:6379/1'

# With authentication
broker_url = 'redis://:password@localhost:6379/0'

# Redis Sentinel (high availability)
broker_url = 'sentinel://localhost:26379;sentinel://localhost:26380'
broker_transport_options = {
    'master_name': 'mymaster',
    'sentinel_kwargs': {'password': 'password'},
}

# Redis connection pool settings
broker_pool_limit = 10
broker_connection_retry = True
broker_connection_retry_on_startup = True
broker_connection_max_retries = 10
```

### RabbitMQ Configuration
```python
# Basic RabbitMQ
broker_url = 'amqp://guest:guest@localhost:5672//'

# With virtual host
broker_url = 'amqp://user:password@localhost:5672/myvhost'

# High availability (multiple brokers)
broker_url = [
    'amqp://user:password@host1:5672//',
    'amqp://user:password@host2:5672//',
]

# RabbitMQ-specific settings
broker_heartbeat = 30
broker_pool_limit = 10
```

### Amazon SQS Configuration
```python
# AWS SQS (serverless)
broker_url = 'sqs://'
broker_transport_options = {
    'region': 'us-east-1',
    'queue_name_prefix': 'myapp-',
    'visibility_timeout': 3600,
    'polling_interval': 1,
}

# With custom credentials
import boto3
broker_transport_options = {
    'region': 'us-east-1',
    'predefined_queues': {
        'default': {
            'url': 'https://sqs.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/123456789/myapp-default',
        }
    }
}
```

---

## Task Basics

### Task Definition
```python
from celery import Task, shared_task
from celery_app import app

# Method 1: Decorator
@app.task
def simple_task(x, y):
    return x + y

# Method 2: Shared task (framework-agnostic)
@shared_task
def framework_task(data):
    return process(data)

# Method 3: Task class (advanced)
class CustomTask(Task):
    def on_success(self, retval, task_id, args, kwargs):
        print(f"Task {task_id} succeeded with {retval}")

    def on_failure(self, exc, task_id, args, kwargs, einfo):
        print(f"Task {task_id} failed: {exc}")

    def on_retry(self, exc, task_id, args, kwargs, einfo):
        print(f"Task {task_id} retrying: {exc}")

@app.task(base=CustomTask)
def monitored_task(x):
    return x * 2
```

### Task Options
```python
@app.task(
    name='custom.task.name',           # Custom task name
    bind=True,                          # Bind task instance as first arg
    ignore_result=True,                 # Don't store result (performance)
    max_retries=3,                      # Max retry attempts
    default_retry_delay=60,             # Retry delay in seconds
    rate_limit='100/h',                 # Rate limiting
    time_limit=300,                     # Hard time limit (kills task)
    soft_time_limit=240,                # Soft time limit (raises exception)
    serializer='json',                  # Task serializer
    compression='gzip',                 # Compress large messages
    priority=5,                         # Task priority (0-9)
    queue='high_priority',              # Target queue
    routing_key='priority.high',        # Routing key
    acks_late=True,                     # Acknowledge after execution
    reject_on_worker_lost=True,         # Reject if worker dies
)
def advanced_task(self, data):
    try:
        return process(data)
    except Exception as exc:
        # Retry with exponential backoff
        raise self.retry(exc=exc, countdown=2 ** self.request.retries)
```

### Task Context (bind=True)
```python
@app.task(bind=True)
def context_aware_task(self, x, y):
    # Access task metadata
    print(f"Task ID: {self.request.id}")
    print(f"Task Name: {self.name}")
    print(f"Args: {self.request.args}")
    print(f"Kwargs: {self.request.kwargs}")
    print(f"Retries: {self.request.retries}")
    print(f"Delivery Info: {self.request.delivery_info}")

    # Manual retry
    try:
        result = risky_operation(x, y)
    except Exception as exc:
        raise self.retry(exc=exc, countdown=60, max_retries=3)

    return result
```

---

## Task Execution

### Delay vs Apply Async
```python
# delay() - Simple async execution
result = add.delay(4, 6)

# apply_async() - Full control
result = add.apply_async(
    args=(4, 6),
    kwargs={'extra': 'data'},

    # Timing options
    countdown=60,                    # Execute after N seconds
    eta=datetime(2025, 12, 1, 10, 0),  # Execute at specific time
    expires=3600,                    # Task expires after N seconds

    # Routing options
    queue='math',                    # Target specific queue
    routing_key='math.add',          # Custom routing key
    exchange='tasks',                # Target exchange
    priority=9,                      # High priority

    # Execution options
    serializer='json',               # Message serializer
    compression='gzip',              # Compress payload
    retry=True,                      # Auto-retry on failure
    retry_policy={
        'max_retries': 3,
        'interval_start': 0,
        'interval_step': 0.2,
        'interval_max': 0.2,
    },

    # Task linking
    link=log_result.s(),             # Success callback
    link_error=handle_error.s(),     # Error callback
)

# Check result
if result.ready():
    print(result.get())  # Get result (blocks)
    print(result.result)  # Get result (non-blocking)
```

### Task Signatures
```python
from celery import signature

# Create signature (doesn't execute)
sig = add.signature((2, 2), countdown=10)
sig = add.s(2, 2)  # Shorthand

# Partial arguments (currying)
partial = add.s(2)  # One arg fixed
result = partial.apply_async(args=(4,))  # Add second arg

# Immutable signature (args can't be replaced)
immutable = add.si(2, 2)

# Clone and modify
new_sig = sig.clone(countdown=60)

# Execute signature
result = sig.delay()
result = sig.apply_async()
result = sig()  # Synchronous execution
```

### Result Handling
```python
# Basic result retrieval
result = add.delay(4, 6)
value = result.get(timeout=10)  # Blocks until complete

# Non-blocking result check
if result.ready():
    print(result.result)

# Result states
print(result.status)      # PENDING, STARTED, SUCCESS, FAILURE
print(result.successful())  # True if SUCCESS
print(result.failed())      # True if FAILURE

# Result metadata
print(result.traceback)   # Exception traceback if failed
print(result.info)        # Task return value or exception

# Forget result (free memory)
result.forget()

# Revoke task (cancel)
result.revoke(terminate=True)  # Kill running task
add.AsyncResult(task_id).revoke()  # Revoke by ID
```

---

## Task Routing

### Queue Configuration
```python
# Define queues
from kombu import Queue, Exchange

app.conf.task_queues = (
    Queue('default', Exchange('default'), routing_key='default'),
    Queue('high_priority', Exchange('priority'), routing_key='priority.high'),
    Queue('low_priority', Exchange('priority'), routing_key='priority.low'),
    Queue('emails', Exchange('tasks'), routing_key='tasks.email'),
    Queue('reports', Exchange('tasks'), routing_key='tasks.report'),
)

# Default queue
app.conf.task_default_queue = 'default'
app.conf.task_default_exchange = 'tasks'
app.conf.task_default_routing_key = 'default'
```

### Task Routing Rules
```python
# Route specific tasks to queues
app.conf.task_routes = {
    'myapp.tasks.send_email': {'queue': 'emails'},
    'myapp.tasks.generate_report': {'queue': 'reports', 'priority': 9},
    'myapp.tasks.*': {'queue': 'default'},
}

# Function-based routing
def route_task(name, args, kwargs, options, task=None, **kw):
    if 'email' in name:
        return {'queue': 'emails', 'routing_key': 'email.send'}
    elif 'report' in name:
        return {'queue': 'reports', 'priority': 5}
    return {'queue': 'default'}

app.conf.task_routes = (route_task,)
```

### Worker Queue Binding
```bash
# Worker consuming specific queues
celery -A myapp worker -Q emails,reports --loglevel=info

# Multiple workers for different queues
celery -A myapp worker -Q high_priority -c 4 --loglevel=info
celery -A myapp worker -Q default -c 2 --loglevel=info
celery -A myapp worker -Q low_priority -c 1 --loglevel=info
```

### Priority Queues
```python
# Configure priority support
app.conf.task_queue_max_priority = 10
app.conf.task_default_priority = 5

# Send task with priority
high_priority_task.apply_async(args=(), priority=9)
low_priority_task.apply_async(args=(), priority=1)

# Priority-based routing
app.conf.task_routes = {
    'critical_task': {'queue': 'default', 'priority': 10},
    'background_task': {'queue': 'default', 'priority': 1},
}
```

---

## Periodic Tasks

### Celery Beat Setup
```python
# celery_config.py
from celery.schedules import crontab, solar

# Periodic task schedule
beat_schedule = {
    # Run every 30 seconds
    'add-every-30-seconds': {
        'task': 'myapp.tasks.add',
        'schedule': 30.0,
        'args': (16, 16)
    },

    # Run every morning at 7:30 AM
    'send-daily-report': {
        'task': 'myapp.tasks.send_daily_report',
        'schedule': crontab(hour=7, minute=30),
    },

    # Run every Monday morning
    'weekly-cleanup': {
        'task': 'myapp.tasks.cleanup',
        'schedule': crontab(hour=0, minute=0, day_of_week=1),
    },

    # Run on specific days
    'monthly-report': {
        'task': 'myapp.tasks.monthly_report',
        'schedule': crontab(hour=0, minute=0, day_of_month='1'),
        'kwargs': {'month_offset': 1}
    },

    # Solar schedule (sunrise/sunset)
    'wake-up-at-sunrise': {
        'task': 'myapp.tasks.morning_routine',
        'schedule': solar('sunrise', -37.81, 144.96),  # Melbourne
    },
}

app.conf.beat_schedule = beat_schedule
```

### Crontab Patterns
```python
from celery.schedules import crontab

# Every minute
crontab()

# Every 15 minutes
crontab(minute='*/15')

# Every hour at :30
crontab(minute=30)

# Every day at midnight
crontab(hour=0, minute=0)

# Every weekday at 5 PM
crontab(hour=17, minute=0, day_of_week='1-5')

# Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at noon
crontab(hour=12, minute=0, day_of_week='mon,wed,fri')

# First day of month
crontab(hour=0, minute=0, day_of_month='1')

# Last day of month (use day_of_month='28-31' with logic in task)
crontab(hour=0, minute=0, day_of_month='28-31')

# Quarterly (every 3 months)
crontab(hour=0, minute=0, day_of_month='1', month_of_year='*/3')
```

### Running Beat Scheduler
```bash
# Start beat scheduler
celery -A myapp beat --loglevel=info

# Beat with custom scheduler
celery -A myapp beat --scheduler django_celery_beat.schedulers:DatabaseScheduler

# Combine worker and beat (development only)
celery -A myapp worker --beat --loglevel=info
```

### Dynamic Schedules (django-celery-beat)
```bash
pip install django-celery-beat
```

```python
# settings.py (Django)
INSTALLED_APPS = [
    'django_celery_beat',
]

# Migrate database
python manage.py migrate django_celery_beat

# Run beat with database scheduler
celery -A myapp beat -l info --scheduler django_celery_beat.schedulers:DatabaseScheduler
```

```python
# Create periodic task via Django admin or ORM
from django_celery_beat.models import PeriodicTask, IntervalSchedule, CrontabSchedule
import json

# Create interval schedule (every 10 seconds)
schedule, created = IntervalSchedule.objects.get_or_create(
    every=10,
    period=IntervalSchedule.SECONDS,
)

PeriodicTask.objects.create(
    interval=schedule,
    name='Import feed every 10 seconds',
    task='myapp.tasks.import_feed',
    args=json.dumps(['https://example.com/feed']),
)

# Create crontab schedule
schedule, created = CrontabSchedule.objects.get_or_create(
    minute='0',
    hour='*/4',  # Every 4 hours
    day_of_week='*',
    day_of_month='*',
    month_of_year='*',
)

PeriodicTask.objects.create(
    crontab=schedule,
    name='Hourly cleanup',
    task='myapp.tasks.cleanup',
)
```

---

## Workflows (Canvas)

### Chains
```python
from celery import chain

# Sequential execution
result = chain(add.s(2, 2), add.s(4), add.s(8))()
# Equivalent to: add(add(add(2, 2), 4), 8)
# Result: 16

# Shorthand syntax
result = (add.s(2, 2) | add.s(4) | add.s(8))()

# Chain with different tasks
workflow = (
    fetch_data.s(url) |
    process_data.s() |
    save_results.s()
)
result = workflow.apply_async()
```

### Groups
```python
from celery import group

# Parallel execution
job = group([
    add.s(2, 2),
    add.s(4, 4),
    add.s(8, 8),
])
result = job.apply_async()

# Wait for all results
results = result.get(timeout=10)  # [4, 8, 16]

# Group with callbacks
job = group([
    process_item.s(item) for item in items
]) | summarize_results.s()
```

### Chords
```python
from celery import chord

# Group with callback
job = chord([
    fetch_url.s(url) for url in urls
])(combine_results.s())

# Example: Process multiple files, then merge
workflow = chord([
    process_file.s(file) for file in files
])(merge_results.s())

result = workflow.apply_async()
```

### Map and Starmap
```python
from celery import group

# Map: Apply same task to list of args
results = add.map([(2, 2), (4, 4), (8, 8)])

# Starmap: Unpack arguments
results = add.starmap([(2, 2), (4, 4), (8, 8)])

# Equivalent to:
results = group([add.s(2, 2), add.s(4, 4), add.s(8, 8)])()
```

### Complex Workflows
```python
from celery import chain, group, chord

# Parallel processing with sequential steps
workflow = chain(
    # Step 1: Fetch data
    fetch_data.s(source),

    # Step 2: Process in parallel
    group([
        process_chunk.s(chunk_id) for chunk_id in range(10)
    ]),

    # Step 3: Aggregate results
    aggregate.s(),

    # Step 4: Save to database
    save_results.s()
)

# Nested chords
workflow = chord([
    chord([
        subtask.s(item) for item in chunk
    ])(process_chunk.s())
    for chunk in chunks
])(final_callback.s())

# Real-world example: Report generation
generate_report = chain(
    fetch_user_data.s(user_id),
    chord([
        calculate_stats.s(),
        fetch_transactions.s(),
        fetch_activity.s(),
    ])(combine_sections.s()),
    render_pdf.s(),
    send_email.s(user_email)
)
```

---

## Error Handling

### Automatic Retries
```python
@app.task(
    autoretry_for=(RequestException, IOError),  # Auto-retry these exceptions
    retry_kwargs={'max_retries': 5},             # Max 5 retries
    retry_backoff=True,                          # Exponential backoff
    retry_backoff_max=600,                       # Max 10 minutes backoff
    retry_jitter=True,                           # Add randomness to backoff
)
def fetch_url(url):
    response = requests.get(url)
    response.raise_for_status()
    return response.json()
```

### Manual Retries
```python
@app.task(bind=True, max_retries=3)
def process_data(self, data):
    try:
        result = external_api_call(data)
        return result
    except TemporaryError as exc:
        # Retry after 60 seconds
        raise self.retry(exc=exc, countdown=60)
    except PermanentError as exc:
        # Don't retry, log and fail
        logger.error(f"Permanent error: {exc}")
        raise
    except Exception as exc:
        # Exponential backoff
        raise self.retry(
            exc=exc,
            countdown=2 ** self.request.retries,
            max_retries=3
        )
```

### Error Callbacks
```python
@app.task
def on_error(request, exc, traceback):
    """Called when task fails"""
    logger.error(f"Task {request.id} failed: {exc}")
    send_alert(f"Task failure: {request.task}", str(exc))

@app.task
def risky_task(data):
    return process(data)

# Link error callback
risky_task.apply_async(
    args=(data,),
    link_error=on_error.s()
)
```

### Task Failure Handling
```python
from celery import Task

class CallbackTask(Task):
    def on_failure(self, exc, task_id, args, kwargs, einfo):
        """Handle task failure"""
        logger.error(f"Task {task_id} failed with {exc}")
        # Send notification
        send_notification('Task Failed', str(exc))

    def on_success(self, retval, task_id, args, kwargs):
        """Handle task success"""
        logger.info(f"Task {task_id} succeeded: {retval}")

    def on_retry(self, exc, task_id, args, kwargs, einfo):
        """Handle task retry"""
        logger.warning(f"Task {task_id} retrying: {exc}")

@app.task(base=CallbackTask)
def monitored_task(x):
    if x < 0:
        raise ValueError("Negative value")
    return x * 2
```

### Exception Handling Patterns
```python
@app.task(bind=True)
def robust_task(self, data):
    # Categorize exceptions
    try:
        return process(data)

    except NetworkError as exc:
        # Transient error - retry
        raise self.retry(exc=exc, countdown=60, max_retries=5)

    except ValidationError as exc:
        # Permanent error - don't retry
        logger.error(f"Invalid data: {exc}")
        return {'status': 'failed', 'error': str(exc)}

    except DatabaseError as exc:
        # Critical error - retry with exponential backoff
        backoff = min(2 ** self.request.retries * 60, 3600)
        raise self.retry(exc=exc, countdown=backoff, max_retries=10)

    except Exception as exc:
        # Unknown error - retry limited times
        if self.request.retries < 3:
            raise self.retry(exc=exc, countdown=120)
        else:
            # Max retries exceeded - fail and alert
            logger.critical(f"Task failed after retries: {exc}")
            send_alert('Critical Task Failure', str(exc))
            raise
```

---

## Monitoring and Management

### Task Events
```python
# Enable events
app.conf.worker_send_task_events = True
app.conf.task_send_sent_event = True

# Event listeners
from celery import signals

@signals.task_prerun.connect
def task_prerun_handler(sender=None, task_id=None, task=None, args=None, kwargs=None, **extra):
    print(f"Task {task.name}[{task_id}] starting")

@signals.task_postrun.connect
def task_postrun_handler(sender=None, task_id=None, task=None, retval=None, **extra):
    print(f"Task {task.name}[{task_id}] completed: {retval}")

@signals.task_failure.connect
def task_failure_handler(sender=None, task_id=None, exception=None, traceback=None, **extra):
    print(f"Task {task_id} failed: {exception}")

@signals.task_retry.connect
def task_retry_handler(sender=None, task_id=None, reason=None, **extra):
    print(f"Task {task_id} retrying: {reason}")
```

### Flower Monitoring
```bash
# Install Flower
pip install flower

# Start Flower
celery -A myapp flower --port=5555

# Access dashboard
# http://localhost:5555
```

```python
# Flower configuration
flower_basic_auth = ['admin:password']
flower_persistent = True
flower_db = 'flower.db'
flower_max_tasks = 10000
```

### Inspecting Workers
```python
from celery_app import app

# Get active tasks
i = app.control.inspect()
print(i.active())

# Get scheduled tasks
print(i.scheduled())

# Get reserved tasks
print(i.reserved())

# Get worker stats
print(i.stats())

# Get registered tasks
print(i.registered())

# Revoke task
app.control.revoke(task_id, terminate=True)

# Shutdown worker
app.control.shutdown()

# Pool restart
app.control.pool_restart()

# Rate limit
app.control.rate_limit('myapp.tasks.slow_task', '10/m')
```

### Command Line Inspection
```bash
# List active tasks
celery -A myapp inspect active

# List scheduled tasks
celery -A myapp inspect scheduled

# Worker stats
celery -A myapp inspect stats

# Registered tasks
celery -A myapp inspect registered

# Revoke task
celery -A myapp control revoke <task_id>

# Shutdown workers
celery -A myapp control shutdown

# Purge all tasks
celery -A myapp purge
```

### Custom Metrics
```python
@app.task(bind=True)
def tracked_task(self, data):
    from prometheus_client import Counter, Histogram

    task_counter = Counter('celery_tasks_total', 'Total tasks')
    task_duration = Histogram('celery_task_duration_seconds', 'Task duration')

    with task_duration.time():
        result = process(data)
        task_counter.inc()
        return result
```

---

## Framework Integration

### Django Integration
```python
# myproject/celery.py
import os
from celery import Celery

os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'myproject.settings')

app = Celery('myproject')
app.config_from_object('django.conf:settings', namespace='CELERY')
app.autodiscover_tasks()

# myproject/__init__.py
from .celery import app as celery_app
__all__ = ('celery_app',)

# settings.py
CELERY_BROKER_URL = 'redis://localhost:6379/0'
CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND = 'redis://localhost:6379/1'
CELERY_TASK_SERIALIZER = 'json'
CELERY_RESULT_SERIALIZER = 'json'
CELERY_ACCEPT_CONTENT = ['json']
CELERY_TIMEZONE = 'UTC'
CELERY_ENABLE_UTC = True

# Task in Django app
# myapp/tasks.py
from celery import shared_task
from django.core.mail import send_mail

@shared_task
def send_email_task(subject, message, recipient):
    send_mail(subject, message, '[email protected]', [recipient])
    return f"Email sent to {recipient}"

# Use in views
from myapp.tasks import send_email_task

def my_view(request):
    send_email_task.delay('Hello', 'Welcome!', '[email protected]')
    return HttpResponse('Email queued')
```

### FastAPI Integration
```python
# celery_app.py
from celery import Celery

celery_app = Celery(
    'fastapi_app',
    broker='redis://localhost:6379/0',
    backend='redis://localhost:6379/1'
)

@celery_app.task
def process_data(data: dict):
    # Long-running task
    import time
    time.sleep(10)
    return {"processed": data, "status": "complete"}

# main.py
from fastapi import FastAPI, BackgroundTasks
from celery_app import process_data

app = FastAPI()

@app.post("/process")
async def process_endpoint(data: dict):
    # Option 1: FastAPI BackgroundTasks (simple, in-process)
    # background_tasks.add_task(process_data, data)

    # Option 2: Celery (distributed, persistent)
    task = process_data.delay(data)
    return {"task_id": task.id, "status": "queued"}

@app.get("/status/{task_id}")
async def check_status(task_id: str):
    from celery.result import AsyncResult
    task = AsyncResult(task_id, app=celery_app)

    return {
        "task_id": task_id,
        "status": task.status,
        "result": task.result if task.ready() else None
    }
```

**When to Use Celery vs FastAPI BackgroundTasks**:
- **FastAPI BackgroundTasks**: Simple, fire-and-forget tasks (logging, cleanup)
- **Celery**: Distributed processing, retries, scheduling, task results

### Flask Integration
```python
# celery_app.py
from celery import Celery

def make_celery(app):
    celery = Celery(
        app.import_name,
        broker=app.config['CELERY_BROKER_URL'],
        backend=app.config['CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND']
    )
    celery.conf.update(app.config)

    class ContextTask(celery.Task):
        def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
            with app.app_context():
                return self.run(*args, **kwargs)

    celery.Task = ContextTask
    return celery

# app.py
from flask import Flask
from celery_app import make_celery

app = Flask(__name__)
app.config['CELERY_BROKER_URL'] = 'redis://localhost:6379/0'
app.config['CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND'] = 'redis://localhost:6379/1'

celery = make_celery(app)

@celery.task
def send_email(to, subject, body):
    with app.app_context():
        # Use Flask-Mail or similar
        mail.send(Message(subject, recipients=[to], body=body))

@app.route('/send')
def send_route():
    send_email.delay('[email protected]', 'Hello', 'Welcome!')
    return 'Email queued'
```

---

## Testing Strategies

### Eager Mode (Synchronous Execution)
```python
# conftest.py (pytest)
import pytest
from celery_app import app

@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
def celery_config():
    return {
        'broker_url': 'memory://',
        'result_backend': 'cache+memory://',
        'task_always_eager': True,          # Execute tasks synchronously
        'task_eager_propagates': True,      # Propagate exceptions
    }

# Test tasks
def test_add_task():
    result = add.delay(4, 6)
    assert result.get() == 10

def test_task_failure():
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        failing_task.delay()
```

### Testing with Real Broker
```python
# conftest.py
import pytest
from celery_app import app

@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
def celery_config():
    return {
        'broker_url': 'redis://localhost:6379/15',  # Test database
        'result_backend': 'redis://localhost:6379/15',
    }

@pytest.fixture
def celery_worker(celery_app):
    """Start worker for tests"""
    with celery_app.Worker() as worker:
        yield worker

def test_async_task(celery_worker):
    result = async_task.delay(data)
    assert result.get(timeout=10) == expected
```

### Mocking External Dependencies
```python
from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock

@app.task
def fetch_and_process(url):
    response = requests.get(url)
    return process(response.json())

def test_fetch_and_process():
    with patch('requests.get') as mock_get:
        mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {'data': 'test'}

        result = fetch_and_process.delay('http://example.com')
        assert result.get() == expected_result
        mock_get.assert_called_once_with('http://example.com')
```

### Testing Periodic Tasks
```python
from celery.schedules import crontab

def test_periodic_task_schedule():
    from celery_app import app

    schedule = app.conf.beat_schedule['daily-report']
    assert schedule['task'] == 'myapp.tasks.daily_report'
    assert schedule['schedule'] == crontab(hour=0, minute=0)

def test_periodic_task_execution():
    # Test task logic directly
    result = daily_report()
    assert result['status'] == 'complete'
```

### Integration Testing
```python
import pytest
from celery_app import app

@pytest.fixture(scope='module')
de...