Lesson 10: Frameworks¶
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Frameworks¶
Frameworks are collections of classes, functions, and constants designed to make completing a task easier.
Types of frameworks include:
- Web frameworks
- Game frameworks
- GUI frameworks
The job of a framework¶
To take care of the boring stuff.
Why and When to use a Framework¶
Use a framework if you are making a cookie cutter application.
If a framework exists for what you’re doing, consider using it.
Looking for Frameworks¶
Things to keep in mind when looking for a framework:
Good frameworks usually have:
- Good documentation
- Active developers
- A helpful community
Web Frameworks¶
Static vs Dynamic Sites¶
There are two types of websites: Static and Dynamic.
- Static Site
- Rarely changes, looks the same for all visitors (Blog, News, Document)
- Dynamic Site
- Changes based on who you are and what you do. (Search Engine, Login)
Popular Web Frameworks¶
- Python
- Django
- Offers many feature out of the box: Admin page, easy database management, simple templating, convenient URL routing. Well documented too.
- Flask
- Sparsely featured, offers very little out of the box and lets you build up the features you need. Well supported with community libraries and add-ons.
- Ruby
- Node.js
- ExpressJS
- A bare-bones NodeJS application, similar again to Flask.
The Model-View-Controller Pattern¶
URL Routing¶
@app.route('/accounts/<account_name>', methods=['DELETE'])
def delete_account(account_name):
if authenticated() and authorized():
database.remove_account(account_name)
return 'Success', 200
else
return 'Failure', 401
Templating Engines (mad-libs!)¶
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
<title>Template Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<p>Your lucky number today is {{ number }}!</p>
</body>
</html>
render_template("template.html", number=random.randint(0, 99))
Your lucky number today is 42!
...
<body>
{% for message in messages %}
<p>{{ message }}</p>
{% endfor %}
</body>
...
messages = ["Welcome!", "Test Message", "Vim > Emacs"]
render_template("template2.html", messages=messages)
Welcome!
Test Message
Vim > Emacs
HTTP¶
GET http://web.site/page.html HTTP/1.1
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: text/html
...
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
...
HTTP Methods¶
Further Reading¶
- The Flask Microframework
- Flask is a web framework that is simple enough for beginners to use but configurable enough to allow more advanced users to have full control over their application. It has a very active community and fantastic documentation.
- Intro to HTTP and REST
- HTTP is the protocol that web clients and web servers use to communicate with each other, and REST is a set of web design guidelines that is takes advantage of HTTP’s features and allows different applications to easily communicate with each other.