The first version of Django web development framework was released in the year 2005 and has been gaining users since then. As it is implemented in Python, it follows the Zen of Python and describes itself as “the web framework for perfectionists with deadlines”. Some of the top companies in the world such as Instagram, YouTube and Google use Django.
Before we start talking about the advantages and disadvantages of Django, let’s tell you the basics!
What is Django?
Django is an MVT web application framework. It can be defined as a “batteries included” web framework that is simple and robust and enables the web developers to write clean, efficient and powerful code. Django is one of the most famous and used frameworks for web development right now.
Django’s Structure
It follows the Model View Template architecture. So, how does this structure work? When the Django server receives a request, a URL router will map the request to an appropriate view. The view will then fetch the data through models, fill the template and send it back to the user.
We hope that you are pretty clear with the basics now. Let’s move the discussion forward and talk about Django pros and cons.
Advantages of Django
It is Simple
The Django documentation is flawless. The framework was launched with high quality documents and the community has still managed the same quality, which makes it easy to use.
More than that, one of the main purposes of the framework is to simplify the development process. It takes care of the basics so you can focus on writing more complex parts of your project.
It Works on Python
As the framework is based on Python, it comes with advantages of Python web development such as:
Portability. Your code can be ported to many platforms.
Multi-paradigm. Python supports object-oriented programming, which is a simple and crucial way of programming.
Python is more interactive than most of the other languages. It will help you focus on solving a task rather than on syntax.
Hassle of web development is reduced to a great extent with the help of Python. Moreover, its extensive amount of libraries makes it easy for you to learn or switch to this language from another one. Clients usually like Python as it takes less time to write the code, thus, less money used to complete the technical part of the project.
Django’s Useful Features Simplify Development
As the framework has adopted the “batteries included” approach, it contains everything that is necessary to develop a full fledged application out of the box.
Now you don’t have to spend a lot of time in customization to build a simple application as all the essential things are available. Furthermore, if you need some additional features for a more complex app, there are over 4000 packages available for Django to cover the profiling, testing and debugging activities.
Apart from these features, Django framework also has tool packages to work with technologies such as data analysis, AI and machine learning. It does not require a lot of effort to set up and use in your project.
Django is DRY and KISS compliant
It follows the Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle which means you have the freedom to replace the frequently repeated software patterns with abstractions or make use of data normalization. In this manner, you avoid repetition and bugs. Plus, if you reinvent the wheel, development is simplified for you to focus on creating unique features.
KISS is Keep It Short & Simple. In the case of Django, it means simple, easy to read and understandable code.
Disadvantages of Django
Speed
Badly designed architecture when combined with Python, which is definitely not the fastest language around, may result in slow websites. So make sure that your application is properly optimized. Django provides you with its own benchmarks to check the speed and identify the loopholes.
Make sure that you implement a well optimized and scalable architecture from the very beginning as it will save you from speed troubles in the future. Django is usually used for huge web applications - so speed is not an issue of the framework itself but rather of proper configuration and architecture design.
Lack of Convention
As compared to a framework like Ruby on Rails, everything needs to be exclusively defined, which leads to configuration boilerplate and it may slow down the development process.
On the other hand, Python programming language commonly relies on configuration.
Not Always the Perfect Choice
You should always choose the best tool for the job at hand. Django may not turn out to be the right choice for static one page websites or microservices.
It was designed to develop standard web applications really fast. It means that Django combines all the pieces required to compile simply a CRUD app but also more complicated web applications.
Components are Tightly Coupled
Most of the web frameworks keep the components loose so it is easier for the developers to move them around. But in the case of Django, components are tightly packed, forcing the developers to install all of them at the same time. The entire process is time consuming as well as annoying.
That’s All for Today on Django!
Just like every other framework, Django has its own set of pros and cons. However, we would like to add that the performance of framework largely depends on the type of project you are working on.
You can use Django to start a simple and small project and scale it as per the growth of your project. Furthermore, you can also use it to test an idea and save on monetary costs if you feel that the project is not worth investing more.
Mihir Mistry
CEO
by Sanjay Kidecha
by Sagar Bagsariya
by Drashti Pandya
by Manav Patel
