The best Python Frameworks for Web Development

What is Web Development?

When describing and getting acquainted with the capabilities of frameworks and other technologies used for web development, it is appropriate to start by defining the terms.

Web development is the creation of web applications for the following:

• Internet – a globally accessible public network
• Intranet – a non-public, private, and locally accessible network.

Web development covers a very different range of work, also in terms of complexity and business relevance related to User Experience.

Under this term are, on the one hand, simple showcase pages and blogs. On the other hand, we have web applications. Usually very complex in terms of technology and functionality, logic, and business objectives.

Web development is sometimes associated solely with programming work, writing code. Is this the correct approach? Well, it is rather pointless to try to resolve this dilemma. These are – in a sense – academic disputes that are unlikely to make much difference in the daily practice of a web development company.

The web development process uses a whole corpus of tools to make the future application work and look according to users' expectations. And that it is adequate in terms of the assumptions its designers and developers made.

The list of tools (regarding programming and design) used in web development includes:

• React.js (JavaScript library)
• Django (framework written in Python)
• Flask, Japronto (microframeworks written in Python)
• Python (one of the most popular programming languages)
• Symfony, Laravel (frameworks written in PHP)
• Material UI, Bulma, Bootstrap (frameworks with ready-made UI components)
• Lottie (JavaScript library for creating interactive vector animations)
• Figma / Sketch / Zeplin (tools for collaboration between web design and web development teams)
• AWS (the largest cloud provider used to host web applications of any size)

In the list above, we have included the names of selected libraries and frameworks that make web application development and web development in general (in the front-end, back-end, Q&A, and DevOps layers) a much simpler process.

More efficient, rational, and convenient. Less error-prone, especially in terms of critical errors and security.

They are easy to maintain regarding quality, help keep the project in order with conventions and quality control tools, and easily submit to test automation.

A complete list would be much, much longer. At the same time, listing all the tools is not the point. It is just an illustration of the extent to which web development today depends (in a good sense) on tools that improve the work in web development companies.

Frameworks (front end, back end) play a special role in modern web development because they provide solutions and components that are tested and constantly improved.

Frameworks offer clear guidelines for developing applications, which reduce mistakes and eliminate the problem of reinventing the wheel.

Above all, frameworks, including those written in Python, eliminate the problem of creating a web application from scratch. As a result, development teams can deliver finished, high-quality software in a much faster timeframe.

Frameworks written in Python (or other languages) allow developers to quickly create web, mobile, IoT, and other applications without having to build from scratch fundamental operations and processes occurring in the application, such as working with a database or validating user input.

They support the majority of typical programming procedures, thus significantly reducing coding time. They also improve the code's clarity, conciseness, and simplicity, making debugging and maintenance easier. They also facilitate the better development of each layer of an application.

That said, it is worth remembering that there are two key layers within web development:

• Front-end web development
• Back-end web development

Front-end web development addresses the outer layer of a web application, those elements visible to its users (graphics, text, buttons, sliders, etc.) with which they can interact.

Tools supporting front-end web development most often enable us to more conveniently and efficiently, sometimes with the help of ready-made components, build the layout of a web application, design its interface and deliver the best UX to users.

Back-end web development handles the back-end layer of a web application, that is, the part that is not directly accessible to website users and not visible to them. At the same time, it is the heart and brain of the web application.

Back-end web development is responsible for the operation of a site, is used to collect, store, organize data, and is the logistical support of the application.

In short, back-end web development is in charge of making all the components of a web or mobile application work correctly and allows us to share data between devices and users.

The majority of front-end and back-end development work is currently done with the help of numerous libraries and frameworks, the main advantage of which is that the application is built in a way that resembles building a house out of ready-made modules and templates.

A vast open-source community ensures the availability, usefulness, up-to-dateness, and effectiveness of frameworks. They are the result of the experience and work of thousands of seasoned engineers from around the world.

The Python community has created a range of helpful frameworks that are constantly being developed, improved, and updated.

With their help, it is possible to solve increasingly complex and unusual technological and business problems in projects of any scale.

So there is nothing left to do but look at the most popular ones.

Python Framework – Django web framework

We have already written about the advantages and usefulness of Django in the articles "The integration of Stripe payments in Django," "Applications developed in Django," and "WordPress vs. Django. What to choose for a corporate website?"

Django is a web framework for perfectionists with deadlines. The official tagline advertising this open-source project fully captures the essence of this tool.

Django owes its reputation to the speed of application development and the smaller amount of code required to create it.

If we want to make seamlessly and quickly an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), a fully working application with only basic functions, it is worth using Django. This framework helps build applications that are efficient and easily scalable.

Django (full-stack framework) is recommended for developing complex and large web applications.

Web development, thanks to Django, is much more efficient in terms of time and the amount of necessary work.

Django's key features include the following:

• Very good documentation and maturity of the technology
• A large and engaged community that develops the framework and creates countless libraries
• Database version control and an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) engine
• Support for authentication processes
• Template and view engine, URL caching, and routing
• Convenient panel for the administration of service data with the capability of modification (Django Admin)
• Scalability and speed
• High quality and security.

Python Framework – Pyramid web framework

The concise and catchy tagline of yet another framework written in Python also captures its characteristics well. The Start Small, Finish Big, Stay Finished Framework.

Almost all ambitious projects do not shine in terms of momentum and size; instead, they quickly turn into something great, into a project that, as it grows in scale, must be relevant to changing needs.

Is it prepared for unexpected success? Yes, if it is created with the help of Pyramid.

Pyramid was created for such projects. It was developed to meet different needs and guarantee solutions adequate to each stage of business development.

Pyramid is positioned as an alternative to Full-Stack and Microframeworks.

The first sometimes limits developers too much, while the latter places too much responsibility on them.

Both situations raise the risk of project failure. Pyramid being something in the middle guarantees that it is able to bring any project to completion.

Universalism is a characteristic that is often emphasized in descriptions and evaluations of Pyramid. This framework is recommended for developing complex applications and scaling smaller projects.

It is also appreciated for its flexibility. We can seamlessly swap out any component in Pyramid (e.g., template engine) for another. Pyramid enables the use of multiple components for the same application (e.g., different URL mapping methods).

Python Framework – TurboGears 2 web framework

The Web Framework that scales with you – concise and accurate. That is how another framework TurboGears 2, written in Python, self-promotes.

Although it is a framework that would have to be assigned to the Microframeworks category, it offers the ability to scale up to a full-stack framework.

The framework was developed as a response to the limitations of popular frameworks (Django) and its older version TurboGears 1.

Its latest version is supposed to permit fast development of data-driven web applications.

TurboGears 2 was designed and developed to solve complex performance problems.

TurboGears 2 supports tools such as SQLAlchemy, Genshi, WebOb, and Repoze, which provide high-performance mechanisms for accessing databases or fast templates.

TurboGears 2's key features include the following:

• A powerful ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) engine that supports many types of databases
• The ability to scale the framework to a full-stack solution
• Support for Horizontal Data Partitioning
• Support for multiple data transfer formats
• A designer-friendly template system
• Offering widgets to make it easier to build AJAX (browser-side and server-side) applications.

The best Python Frameworks for Web Development. Summary

1. Python and Python frameworks that streamline web development are gaining popularity year after year.
2. Python ranks higher and higher in popularity every year in various studies regarding developers' programming language preferences.
3. Web development and Python frameworks are almost synonymous.
4. Frameworks significantly simplify and speed up the building of web applications.
5. Web development with their help is much faster, simpler, more efficient, and guarantees better results. Both from the technological perspective and the business side related to the User Experience.
6. Web development is the creation of web applications for the Internet and intranet.
7. It covers a very different range of work in terms of complexity and business relevance related to User Experience.
8. The web development process uses a whole corpus of tools.
9. Frameworks (front end, back end) provide solutions and components that are tested and constantly improved.
10. Frameworks provide clear guidelines for developing applications, which reduces mistakes and eliminates the problem of reinventing the wheel.
11. Python frameworks support the majority of typical programming procedures, thus significantly reducing coding time. They also improve the code's clarity, conciseness, and simplicity and make it easier to debug and maintain.
12. Front-end web development addresses the outer layer of a web application, those elements visible to its users with which they can interact.
13. Back-end web development handles the back-end layer of a web application, that is, the part that is not directly accessible to website users and not visible to them.
14. Frameworks developed in Python can be divided into Full-Stack Frameworks and Microframeworks.
15. Full-stack frameworks allow us to create both layers of an application – front-end and back-end. The full technology stack makes it possible to create any application.
16. Microframeworks contain only sets of essential elements required to build a very simple web application.
17. Frameworks written in Python are very often used to create, maintain and develop web applications in the financial, travel, and medical industries.
18. Django (full-stack framework) is recommended for developing MVPs and business applications.
19. Pyramid is positioned as an alternative to Full-Stack and Microframeworks.
20. TurboGears 2 was designed and developed to solve complex performance problems.
21. Flask is ideal for creating microservices offered in large web applications.
22. Falcon has the advantage of being able to create projects that require special stability and efficiency.
23. Japronto is recommended for creating APIs and microservices. In particular, it is recommended for creating microservices that have to handle very high loads. It is capable of handling millions of queries per second.