An introduction to the Django framework

Initially, Django was developed by a web team, between 2003 and 2005, who were liable for building and retaining newspaper websites. After building many sites, the team started to reuse and factor out code and design patterns. This code changed into a basic web development framework.

Django has continuous growth and improvement, from its first version release (1.0) in September 2008 till the latest version 3.1 (2020). Each release version has added new modules and bug fixes, going from support for new kinds of databases, caching, and template engines, with the addition of “generic” view modules and classes (which shrink the amount of code that developers have to compose for many programming tasks).

What is Django?

An advanced Python web framework that allows fast development of safe and sustainable websites. Made by expert developers, Django look after much of the difficulty of web development, so anyone can pay attention on writing app without requiring to reinvent the wheel. It is open source and free, has an active and thriving community, super documentation, and many choices for free and paid-for support.

Why Django

Python’s “batteries-included” approach inherited in Django including:

• Testing
• User authentication
• Admin interface
• Security and performance upgrades
• Database models, forms, URL routes, and templates
• Support for multiple database backends

This approach enables web developers to pay attention on what marks a web application distinctive rather than reinventing the wheel for standard, every time, secure web application functionality.

On the other hand, some common frameworks, particularly, Flask in Python and Express in JavaScript follow a “micro framework” approach. They deliver only the bare minimum compulsory for a simple web page and let it up to the developer to configure and install third-party packages and modules to reproduce basic website functionality. This approach offers more flexibility to the concerned developer.

A lot of programmers have already castoff Django to develop their websites, which is definitely a good thing. Web development is little a bit hard. It does not make logic to reuse the same code when a big community of wonderful developers has already resolved these difficulties for us.

At the same time, Django ruins under active development and has an annually release agenda. The Django community is continually adding new modules, features and safe keeping improvements. And top of all it is written in the ideally readable and powerful Python programming language. In short, if you want to develop a website from start, Django is a great choice.

What is Django used for?

People, who have little understanding of Django, think that it is just like a content management system. In fact, Django is a software tool intended to develop and run web applications.

The origin of the framework’s name is key to accepting its multi-layered nature. The Django framework be obligated its name to jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who played dazzling runs on his guitar even, after an accident, two of his fingers were paralyzed. Django is able to be used for building:

• Booking engines;
• Client relationship management (CRM) systems;
• Communication platforms;
• Content management systems (CMS) for internal and commercial use;
• Document administration platforms;

Django is also good for:

Emailing solutions;

Algorithm-based generators;

Verification systems;

Data analysis solutions and complicated calculations;

Filtering systems with dynamically changing rules and advanced parameters;

Machine learning;

Advantages of Django framework

A python Language

Django framework is written in Python. The Python language is actually modest to learn and looks as it was made for newbies. Let’s see one sample, just the simple code that newbies write when learning any new language:

In Python:

In Java:

Batteries included

Django goals to follow Python’s “batteries included” idea. It means Django offers a wide range of functionalities and features including:

• Multi-language and multi-site support;
• Magical ORM;
• MVC (Model/View/Control) layout;
• AJAX support;
• RSS and Atom feeds;
• Free API;
• Easy Database Migrations;
• URL routing;
• Session handling;
• Code Layout (you can plug new capabilities by using applications);
• templating libraries and HTTP libraries;
• Default Admin section and more.

Administration Interface

The administration interface offered by Django is one of the pretty things. It is very simple to build. You get an entirely featured admin interface by writing only a few lines of code:

Scalable

One of the best advantages of Django is that it is able to handle more traffic and mobile app API usage of more than 400 million+ users serving minimize web hosting costs and maximize scalability.

Best Security

Django hides your website application source code from other users. The framework has safeguard against CSRF and XSS attacks, clickjacking, SQL injections, etc.

Future

Literally, Django grew up vast over the last years. Companies who choose Django over other frameworks can aim to focus at what makes their projects special, and pay less attention to general related issues in framework upgrade performance or web development.