Django vs Flask- There are many python frameworks to choose from but Django and Flask takes the top spot. As an upcoming developer, there are many questions about frameworks and why you should go for either. In this article, I’ll try to shed some light on it.
Django vs Flask: What is a Web Framework?
Every top programming language out there has its own framework, but what exactly is a web framework? A web framework is a piece of software that allows a user to build and run web applications in a certain way.
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Why Use Frameworks?
Yes, it is very much possible to build web applications without the use of a framework. If you know Javascript for example, you can build simple web apps without using a Javascript framework like react or node js. This however, becomes more and more difficult the more complex your project/work becomes.
Take for instance, you need to build a simple calculator web app for making simple arithmetic operations, this can be done with your standard coding skills like python, vanilla js etc. You may not even need to look online for any resource or assistance. Now if for any reason, you need to add more features to your calculator app, like user logins, complex databases, a blog section and more, that’s where a web framework comes in.
Web frameworks like django, flask, react have a collection of libraries and modules that makes work easier for you. It reduces your work load, probable faults and errors too.
Django vs Flask: What is Django?
According to the definition given by the official django documentation page, Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. Built by experienced developers, it takes care of much of the hassle of web development, so you can focus on writing your app without needing to reinvent the wheel. It’s free and open source.
Django was built in 2003 by Adrian Holovaty, and Simon Willison and named after a musician, Django Rheinhart. They built django to make python more scalable and only intended on using it as a content management system(CMS).
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Popular Web Apps Built With Django
- Mozilla
- Spotify
- National Geographic
Django vs Flask: What is Flask?
Flask is a micro-framework written in python by Armin Ronacher. It is classified as a microframework because it does not require particular tools or libraries. It has no database abstraction layer, form validation, or any other components where pre-existing third-party libraries provide common functions.
Instead, flask allows developers to make use of extensions to support database abstraction layer and others.
Flask first originated in 2004, It’s creator, Armin Ronacher created flask as an April fool’s joke. It gained popularity in the open-source community and the rest is history. Flask today is one of the most used and loved web frameworks in existence currently.
Popular Web Apps Built With Flask
- Netflix
- Trivago
- Airbnb
- Lyft
Django vs Flask Similarities
Django and flask are both web frameworks for python, so naturally, they have a lot in common. Here are the similarities between django and flask framework;
- Both Django and flask are free open source frameworks
- They are built using python programming language and are used for python.
- Django and Flask both have strong existing communities that can help you improve and get your job done.
Django vs Flask Differences
Feature | Django | Flask |
Speed | Django has numerous built in libraries that save time during development | Flask does not have many built in libraries, they allow the use of extensions to carry out some functionalites which can reduce speed. |
Project Size | Django is well suited for larger projects and is capable of handling such projects with ease | Flask is more suitable for smaller projects |
Architecture | Django uses an MVT architecture. (Model, View, Template) | Flask uses MVC architecture. (Model, View, Controller) |
Database | Django supports popular relational database management systems like MySQL, Oracle etc | Flask does not support basic database management systems and uses SQL alchemy for database support |
Complexity | Django is more complex as it requires more lines of code comparatively. The learning curve is slightly steeper. | Flask is less complex and requires fewer lines of code. Flask may appear easire to developers with knowledge of python alone. |
Popularity | Django is older than flask and is slightly more popular due to it's ability to handle complex projects. It also has a larger open-source community | Flask is younger than python and only slightly trails behind in popularity. Flask also has a large open-source community but not as large as django |
Conclusion
So which framework should you go for? In the end, it always come down to what you want and the scope of your project. Django and flask can both technically get the job done but flask is suited for simpler tasks while django is perfect for complex jobs. Flask is also a bit more flexible than django, so if you’re working on a project whose scope might change frequently then flask would be a better choice.
Before choosing a framework, ask yourself what exactly are you aiming at? what kind of job or project are you working on? Once you have these answers, you’ll be able to make the choice easily.
