Pros and Cons of Django as Web Framework
A web developer is always in the chase of finding good frameworks for building and maintaining a great web application. The chase ends here with Django. Django is an open-source web framework that provides an easy and efficient way to create websites with minimum hassles.
It is used to develop smart applications without any development cost. It can be a helping hand for any of the client’s needs.
Below is a list of some of the most prominent advantages and disadvantages that will help you to make a smarter choice.
Pros of using Django
1. Battery included approach
Django follows a batteries-included approach. It means that Django comes with resources that are required by you(developers) built-in. You don’t have to write your own codes for adding some functionalities, you can just import the packages made by strong community members that are available as open-source.
2. Rapid Development
If you want to create an application in less time, Django is your go-to option. While working with Django you just need some basic knowledge, and you are ready to create that fantastic web application in no time.
The MVT architecture is the main star of the game, which helps to work on different components parallelly, and then we can integrate it easily.
The DRY philosophy helps you to reuse the code you have written for prior projects.
Django aims to provide ease to the users by piling up all the processes, packages, and libraries so that a complex website can be created in less time.
3. Python Web-framework
Python is considered to be the best option as the first programming language. The features that make this quick to learn are the easy syntax structure and loads of in-built libraries and packages that help users to get everything arranged in one place.
Django, a Python web framework provides users utmost ease for creating their applications. Understanding and implementing Python codes is quite easy and hassle-free. So you don’t have to be a master of frontend and backend while working with Django.
4. Security
While building high-end web applications, security becomes a very crucial aspect to ponder on. Django understands this concern and provides its best defender to save your efforts.
Using click-jacking, cross-site scripting, SQL injections Django builds a strong wall for the application’s safety.
User authentication is also an important feature to safely manage user accounts and passwords that Django provides.
5. Community Support
Django has been ruling the IT markets for the past 13 years, which makes Django a very successful web framework out there.
What made Django reach these heights is the strong community support. Thousands of developers are working together to fix any errors and bugs that appear. If you face any problem while working or are stuck somewhere and have no idea what to do, a simple Google search can save your time and game.
Django is continuously improving and evolving with the addition of new libraries, to be the best platform in the market.
6. Scalable
Scalability can be understood as an ability of an application to work well when the size or volume of the platform increases. A good application is always programmed to work efficiently if there occurs an increase in traffic.
Django works effortlessly in this issue. Websites made with Django have the capacity to handle multiple users at a single time.
Examples of some popular websites using Django include Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, Mozilla, Quora, etc.
7. Time-Tested
With thousands of developers working continuously to fix any bugs and errors, Django has become one of the most used web frameworks in the market.
Time testing is one of the best advantages of using Django, as the majority of your queries are already resolved by the hardworking team.
Companies like Mozilla, Quora, and Facebook have shifted their technology stack to Django, and yes they made the correct choice.
8. Speed and App Performance
When talking about web applications, speed becomes an important aspect to discuss. Django helps the users to create dynamic web applications in no time.
Django MTV architecture makes the deployment process quite easy. Using Django efficiency and cost-effectiveness comes in handy.
9. Admin Interface
There are some times when companies have to make some changes to their websites. They obviously don’t have the technical knowledge to do so.
So to handle this situation, the admin interface is the solution. Developers have login protected admin area to alter the codes
10. Free Flow Coding
A developer may never face an issue of unwanted or poorly written codes while using Django.
Django comes as a complete package. While working with it you are not required to download any package or libraries from any third party.
11. Object-Oriented
Django provides the functionality of Object-oriented programming. That means the security concerns are handled easily. The use of class, methods, objects and functionality of overriding make things easier.
12. REST framework for APIs
Application programming interface better known as “API”, are very essential to add advanced features to an application. The Django REST framework makes the work easy by building APIs for web applications.
Django users admire the REST framework as it provides them with some powerful API functionality.
Django framework comes with authentication, authorization, and customization to increase the flexibility of the applications.
13. Django is DRY and KISS compliant
DRY stands for “Don’t repeat yourself” and provides ease to the users, as they can use the same set of codes in their next project, eliminating all that headache of writing again.
KISS stands for “ keep it short and simple”. It represents the features of Django’s simple and easy-to-understand codes.
14. Versatile Nature
Versatility defines the ability of a web framework to fit in different domains easily. Django has been a great help for various popular websites for the past so many years. OTT platform, Shopping sites, Social media platform etc, we can find Django everywhere.
15. Fully Loaded
With the functionality of user authentication, admin interface, content administration, rapid development, scalability, and security, Django is a complete package in itself.
Cons of using Django
1. Not Suitable for Small Projects
Are you choosing Django for making a small project? It is not a smart choice.
Django is designed for building large applications quickly, and for this, it requires server processing time and bandwidth while developing.
Bandwidth is the requirement for scaling the sites, and for small projects, large bandwidth gets wasted.
The major drawback a small project developer can face is getting confused with all the unwanted and unique functionalities.
2. Does not provide Multiprocessor Support
Multiprocessing is a demand of today. Applications must support multiprocessing. Django is not capable of handling multiple requests at the same time. Other frameworks like java are much more flexible and convenient. This creates limitations while writing codes and forces developers to search for alternate ways.
3. ORM system lacks features
Object Relational Mapper makes the access of databases easier. However, it lacks some features. Django does not allow the programmers to completely use SQLAlchemy, a Python toolkit.
4. Learning Django is not easy
Although it is a simple web framework in python, developers find Django difficult to learn.
Having prior knowledge of Python may be helpful to grab things faster but if you are switching from another language it may be tricky at first.
But not to worry, once you’ve gone deeper in the journey the things become child’s play.
5. Monolithic framework
Django does not allow developers to learn Python packages and tools, instead, it focuses on providing code-oriented programming. Django has a certain set of files and that you only need to learn. Well, some find it as an advantage while others don’t.
Developers have already created many models that may be reused in different projects, thereby allowing the users only to use them rather than making any changes.
So for the tech enthusiast, playing with the existing codes is not an option. While working with Django you only have to focus on your project, rather than some complex programming.
6. Tightly coupled
Django provides all its libraries and packages altogether, which means there is a need to install them at one go. With its ORM, Template engine system, and settings object the coupling becomes tighter. This sometimes irritates the users.
7. Issue with URL
Specifying URLs can sometimes be a tricky task. Template error can become a time taking.
Summary
As every coin has two sides, so is the case with Django too. Although the advantages of Django are much more effective than its disadvantages we can simply ignore them.
Fields like scientific computing, e-commerce, and real estate have been using Django for the past so many years. Hence, Django is a great choice for building a large application, but for small ones, it is not a wise choice.