My dear reader, how are you? السلام عليكم
Life is all about evolution. Learning has no end. “The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” Make learning your lifestyle.
In this post, I discuss the top features of the Django web framework which makes it one of the top all-in-one frameworks for developing just-in-time and optimized applications. A quick introduction to other web application development frameworks is available in my earlier post. Would you like to read? Follow this DirectMe.
Why choose Django?
Following are the main reasons to choose Django for your next projects.
- Detailed Documentation (DirectMe). I am in love with the documentation provided by Django developers. Compared with other open-source technologies, it is one of the best. A developer desires a documentation library, where he can search for any function with ease in as less time as possible. The documentation comes as an important category to rate a technology for people other than core developers to effectively use it.
- Python based Web-framework. Python is one of the top reasons to learn and develop in Django. Python is simple, easy to use and currently the most popular language in the market. This is because of its extensive use in almost everything from web-development (Django) to machine-learning and everything in between. I have shared a roadmap to learn Python earlier in my post. Follow this DirectMe.
- SEO Optimised framework. This feature gives Django an edge over many other frameworks as it saves the developer a lot of time. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) involves a set of techniques to rank your website on top of the list in search engines. Django maintains the web application through URLs rather than the IP addresses on the server, which makes it easy for SEO engineers to add the website to the server while the application developer does not need to convert the URL in any other numeric code.
- High Scalability. I am writing it because I have discovered a lot of multinational companies (MNCs) have been running their platforms using Django such as Instagram. Scalability essentially means the scope or level of a technology at which it gets implemented. The existing Django served platforms handle millions of users which generate terabytes of data every day. Django is written by experienced programmers from scratch without using existing python libraries. Furthermore, a lot of time has been spent in the market and as an opensource project by Django; making it ideal for people who desire to make their platforms scalable and error-free.
- Other features include its versatile in nature MVT architectural pattern (Need details on the architectural patterns? DirectMe) and the batteries fitted into it. Explore the available packages for Django in this DirectMe.
- In simple, use Django when you need to move fast, deploy fast, and also make changes as you move ahead. When your project may involve machine learning at a large scale in the future. Furthermore, use Django as a backend server when you do not wish to interact with your databases directly and need an Object Relational Mapping (ORM) support. Using python also gives you access to PyPi library.
When not to use Django?
Based on what I read and found on the internet and books on architectural patterns and web applications, I find the use of Django discouraged in following scenarios.
- When the application is extremely huge and keeping everything in a single codebase becomes difficult. A better way of dealing with this case is to break the application using microservices or microkernel architectural patterns. Each service might be better handled by the dedicated teams of and using specialized workflows. Use of different technologies for each layer is advisable. Django can be used in some layers in this case, but developing everything with Django is not wise. I would suggest breaking the application into layers, which can be rebuild using better technologies in the future as they evolve.
- When you only require a very basic web application which does not need a database, file operations, or anything even remotely complex. Such applications are usually built for specialized embedded systems with limited computation resources. Using micro-frameworks like Flask is better suited in this case.
- When you are an expert, want to build everything from scratch, and you know what you are doing.
- When you or your team members are not comfortable and familiar with working with Django/Python at all and investing time and resources to gather the required skills is not your preference.
Looking for learning resources for Django?
In this case, I will first ask you if you are a video person who enjoys learning through videos or a bookish person with the aptitude of exploring through reading? In both cases, I have some suggestions.
- Bookish personalities first — Nothing personal video addicts ;))
- Go through official Django documentation following this DirectMe. I suggest everyone go through the tutorials under the first steps.
- Suggested book # 1: Django 2 by Example: Build Powerful and Reliable Python Web Applications from Scratch
- Suggested book # 2: Beginning Django: Web Application Development and Deployment with Python
- Video Learners
I here share a collection of FREE YouTube Django Tutorials with hands-on:
- Requests and Responses in Django DirectMe.
- Django Tutorials by Corey Schafer DirectMe.
- Django Tutorials for beginners by Bucky Robert DirectMe.
- Django Tutorials by Max Goodridge DirectMe.
If you find any errors or feel any need for improvement, let me know in your comments below.
Have you worked with Django? Let me know your experience in comments.