Is Django the Ultimate Web Framework?

Whenever I commence my coding workshops for undergraduates, I initiate an engaging coding game. I task them with defining a concept, for example, “web frameworks”, and the quickest and most accurate response is acknowledged with a token of appreciation. It is typical for the students to react promptly, with several of them scrambling to grab their mobile phones, laptops and tablets to look up the answer. Often, a winner emerges in a matter of minutes.

Following the initial round, I instruct my students to power down their electronic devices and attempt the challenge again, this time utilizing an alternative strategy. If they are unable to instantly access the internet, they must venture outside to find a signal. In most cases, they have to bide their time for approximately 10-15 minutes before receiving a response.

Finally, we will strive to examine another concept, without resorting to internet resources. This necessitates a trip to the library, which might consume as much as thirty minutes of our time.

After awarding the prizes, we delved into a more detailed discussion of the experiment. I intended to highlight the significance of time, but several students misconstrued my viewpoint, assuming that I believed life was more challenging prior to the widespread availability of the internet.

The standards of time management have been consistent for several centuries, although our comprehension of the concept of time has evolved significantly during this period. It seems that time is fleeting faster than ever before, highlighting the importance of every passing moment. Our workloads, spending patterns, and tempo of life have all escalated, necessitating that we prioritize how we spend our time by minimizing superfluous and time-consuming activities. Thus, the time we spend together is of heightened value.

For now, let us persist with this analogy. We can liken web frameworks to chef’s skinning knives utilized when preparing a dish, where in this case, the dish is a web application. By automating certain aspects of web development, we can decrease expenses, augment quality, and expedite the delivery of our services.

Given my perfectionistic tendencies, I sometimes perceive employing web frameworks and pre-existing components and modules as taking the easy way out. However, it is a constant reminder to me that I am not putting forth my most exceptional endeavour unless I construct everything from scratch.

If contemplating a tailor-made creation, it is crucial to keep in mind the possible time and energy investments necessitated. To achieve optimal outcomes, it is recommended to utilise a web framework that is founded upon reliable and flexible technology, which permits customization without compromising the benefits that automation renders.

For creating a website that interacts with a database, I prefer using Django web framework.

The term “Django” appears to be inappropriate.

Named after the renowned jazz guitarist, Django is an open-source web framework built on the Python programming language by Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison. The idea for this framework emerged spontaneously when these creators shifted focus from PHP to Python in 2003.

After numerous years of refinement and development, the World Online company presented the framework to the public under a 3-clause BSD licence in 2005. Following this, in 2008, the Django Software Foundation (DSF), a non-profit organisation, was established to oversee the ongoing advancement of Django and promote its benefits. At present, Django is 15 years old.

Thanks to the DSF and an active and enthusiastic community, this web framework, which from a modern standpoint is somewhat antiquated, continues to be enhanced and improved.

Why use Django?

Thanks to the popularity of the Python programming language, which is renowned for its simplicity and readability, Django has been the beneficiary of numerous advantages, thereby making it a viable and manageable option.

Django regards component reuse and the “don’t repeat yourself” (DRY) principle as crucial tenets. This fosters a swift and efficient development process, as it encourages the recycling of resources and a reduction in code redundancy.

Should you feel discontented with Django’s handling of a specific scenario, you can often employ Python to implement modifications. An instance of this could be replacing the existing administration interface with your customised code.

This applies to other Python-based frameworks such as Flask; nonetheless, Django excels in the following aspects:

  • The Django framework, with its vast libraries and supportive community, is an excellent option for amateur web developers. Additionally, Django offers a plethora of packages to its users, such as the Django REST framework for building APIs and Django Content Management System to manage websites.
  • Django provides pre-configured solutions to aid in a swift launch, whether you require a simple object-relational mapper to state your database in Python or a more advanced administrative interface with a model-centric approach.
  • Django’s security measures are robust, ensuring a level of protection for developers’ work against malicious individuals. These measures involve protection against cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery and SQL injection. Additionally, utilising a web-framework provides an extra layer of security as the code is both tested and validated by the community.
  • Django, which has been in existence for over ten years and undergone multiple changes, has been used for a wide range of web applications, including e-commerce websites, news portals, and even social media platforms. If you require inspiration for your project, there is a good chance that you will discover a tutorial, documentation, or related Stack Overflow topic within the community.

Alright, so what’s the downside?

Not a single web framework is without faults, and Django is no exception. Hence a perfectionist must be aware of the drawbacks of Django before adopting it.

  • Django is a potent and inclusive framework suitable for developing complex web applications from scratch. However, its suboptimal performance for small apps and the exhaustive features it presents can hinder the performance of applications that would otherwise be quick if developed with frameworks like Flask.
  • Regrettably, Django was born in an age where the capacity to serve concurrent requests with a single process was not standard. Hence, Django does not include support for this feature, which is found in modern frameworks and aids in enhancing web app performance. It falls on the developer to devise imaginative solutions to enable a single process to handle concurrent requests or employ brute force tactics.
  • Django’s status as a low-coupling solution has become obsolete and antiquated. In contrast, some systems boast components that can be more effortlessly disentangled.

What is the Verdict?

Django is widely regarded as one of the most potent and trendy Python web frameworks available. It is a clear-cut and efficient solution that delivers as promised from the start. However, JavaScript and PHP developers continue to dominate the market.

Flask may be a better fit for smaller projects. Several Python developers find it easy to gain familiarity with both Flask and Django, allowing them the flexibility to make a wise decision for each specific project.

Django is a commanding framework that can scale and adjust to varying requirements, thanks to its use of a multifaceted and adaptable programming language. This renders it an excellent choice for developers who aim to deliver a superior product promptly.

Join the Top 1% of Remote Developers and Designers

Works connects the top 1% of remote developers and designers with the leading brands and startups around the world. We focus on sophisticated, challenging tier-one projects which require highly skilled talent and problem solvers.
seasoned project manager reviewing remote software engineer's progress on software development project, hired from Works blog.join_marketplace.your_wayexperienced remote UI / UX designer working remotely at home while working on UI / UX & product design projects on Works blog.join_marketplace.freelance_jobs