[kudala-bharani]

Issue number: closes #8601

Summary

Changes

Add descriptive GetParameterError messages when a DynamoDB item is missing, a query result lacks the configured sort attribute, or AppConfig returns an empty initial configuration with no previous value to reuse.

Five regression cases cover these errors, custom sort attributes, recovery after an empty first response, and reuse of the previous AppConfig value on later empty responses.

User experience

Instead of errors like 'Item', 'sk', or the configuration name alone, callers get the missing parameter/attribute and its table, or the configuration's application and environment. Normal retrieval and caching behavior are unchanged.

Testing

• Parameters functional suite: 143 passed on Python 3.13.
• Formatting, lint, mypy, security/complexity baselines, and commit hooks passed.
• Unit + functional suite: 3,600 passed, 72 skipped, 1 failed. The Datadog test_datadog_write_to_log_with_env_variable failure also occurs on untouched develop at bdd370b (3,595 passed, 72 skipped, same failure); it passes in isolation.

---

By submitting this pull request, I confirm that you can use, modify, copy, and redistribute this contribution, under the terms of your choice.

[boring-cyborg]

Thanks a lot for your first contribution! Please check out our contributing guidelines and don't hesitate to ask whatever you need.
In the meantime, check out the #python channel on our Powertools for AWS Lambda Discord: Invite link

[leandrodamascena]

Thanks @kudala-bharani, this is a real improvement. I ran it against a real DynamoDB table and the messages now name the parameter, the table and the misconfigured sort attribute, which is exactly what someone debugging a provider setup needs. On the AppConfig side I could not make the service return an empty configuration on a first call, a profile that was never deployed fails earlier with Deployment not found, so that branch is a safety net rather than a fix. That is on my issue, not on you.

One small ask while you are here: an item that exists but lacks the value_attr still raises the bare 'value'. Same shape of bug as the other two, one more check in _get and a test would close it.

Approving now anyway. This goes out in 3.39.0, so there is time for that tweak before I merge. No rebase needed, and you'll be credited in the release notes.

[sonarqubecloud]

Quality Gate passed

Issues
0 New issues
0 Accepted issues

Measures
0 Security Hotspots
0.0% Coverage on New Code
0.0% Duplication on New Code

See analysis details on SonarQube Cloud

[codecov]

Codecov Report

✅ All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests.
✅ Project coverage is 96.95%. Comparing base (fe256cf) to head (8f67781).
⚠️ Report is 1 commits behind head on develop.

Additional details and impacted files

@@           Coverage Diff            @@
##           develop    #8618   +/-   ##
========================================
  Coverage    96.95%   96.95%           
========================================
  Files          321      321           
  Lines        16251    16260    +9     
  Branches      1453     1456    +3     
========================================
+ Hits         15756    15765    +9     
  Misses         353      353           
  Partials       142      142           

☔ View full report in Codecov by Harness.
📢 Have feedback on the report? Share it here.

🚀 New features to boost your workflow:

• ❄️ Test Analytics: Detect flaky tests, report on failures, and find test suite problems.

[boring-cyborg]

Awesome work, congrats on your first merged pull request and thank you for helping improve everyone's experience!

[powertools-for-aws-oss-automation]

Awesome work, congrats on your first merged pull request and thank you for helping improve everyone's experience!