Next-Generation Web Frameworks in Python

Liza Daly

Copyright © 2007 O'Reilly Media, Inc.

April 18, 2007

Abstract

With its flexibility, readability, and mature code libraries, Python is a natural choice for developing agile and maintainable web applications. Several frameworks have emerged in the last few years that share ideas with Ruby on Rails and leverage the expressive nature of Python. This Short Cut will tell you what you need to know about the hottest full-stack frameworks: Django, Pylons, and TurboGears. Their philosophies, relative strengths, and development status are described in detail.

What you won't find out is, "Which one should I use?" The short answer is that all of them can be used to build web applications—the challenge for the reader is to find the one that fits his or her project or coding style best.

Welcome to the Next Generation

This Short Cut is meant to be a complete and high-level overview of the three most prominent "next-generation" frameworks. I provide code samples throughout as concrete examples, not as application how-tos. Each of these frameworks comes with excellent tutorial-level documentation that walks novices through the process of creating a simple application, if that is what you need.

I expect that readers are familiar with basic Python syntax, database design, and general web development practices. I hope that if there are any unfamiliar concepts, ...