Sentry Span Streaming for Python

---
name: sentry-span-streaming-python
description: Migrate Python SDK to Sentry span streaming (span-first trace lifecycle). Use when asked to "enable span streaming", "migrate to span streaming", "use trace_lifecycle stream", or switch from transaction-based to streamed span delivery in a Python project.
license: Apache-2.0
category: feature-setup
parent: sentry-feature-setup
disable-model-invocation: true
allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Edit, Write, Grep, Glob
---

> [All Skills](../../SKILL_TREE.md) > [Feature Setup](../sentry-feature-setup/SKILL.md) > Span Streaming (Python)

# Sentry Span Streaming Migration (Python)

Migrate from the default transaction-based trace lifecycle (`static`) to span streaming (`stream`), where spans are sent individually as they complete instead of being batched into a transaction at the end.

This skill covers the Python SDK. For JavaScript, see [Span Streaming (JavaScript)](../sentry-span-streaming-js/SKILL.md).

## Invoke This Skill When

- User asks to "enable span streaming" or "migrate to span streaming" in a Python project
- User wants to switch from transaction-based to streamed span delivery
- User mentions `trace_lifecycle`, `sentry_sdk.traces`, or the new `start_span` API
- User wants lower latency span delivery or per-span processing