To Django or Not to Django
Introduction:
In the world of software, context is key. Having the right tools at the right time is essential to the successful deployment of a project. Without the proper tools at their disposal, how else would developers collaborate, troubleshoot, and meet user’s needs on a daily basis? To meet the stringent demands of industry, developers look to the most efficient means of production and deployment. One such tool that exists is Django.
What Is Django?:
Written in Python, Django was implemented as a means of enhancing the already popular, open-source language. Django is a Python REST Framework geared toward quick startup, scalability and security on behalf of the developer. REpresentational State Transfer is a style of web architecture developed to save the usual energy needed to start a new web project. Think of it as a series of components that eliminate startup overhead; thus making the interface “Restful”. It achieves this by building upon pre-existing systems and features of HyperText Transfer Protocol. In a REST-based system, the client handles UI(uniform interface) and requests while the server is responsible for data access. That means all REST interactions(web -based requests and responses) are achieved by accessing a resource in the form of a URL. Each resource has a unique URL attached to it. Once located, you can either call (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) on said resource to return an Http Response back from the server. By using these resource methods, a developer is able to manipulate data related to that resource (ie, URL).
Why Django?:
Django is significant because it’s a go-to source of building an MVP(Minimum Viable Product). With this infrastructure running, it’s much easier to implement further functionality upon an initial product. Why waste time building an entirely new project when Django cuts the development process exponentially, from ideation to conception. In contrast to other web frameworks like Flask, Django empowers the developer with an all-inclusive package. Django’s use of a MVC(Model-View-Controller) simplifies website creation by emphasizing reusability, less code and low coupling. Django can create a RESTful API by faciliating API authentification and authorization through its built-in user model. Some key features that are included with Django are an authentification system, admin interface and built-in mitigation. With its conventional project structure, Django boasts a browsable API, Version Control, a functional admin panel and elaborate documentation.
