Top 5 Python Web Frameworks Every Backend Developer Should Know

21st Century Tech Guide: While you can build great applications without a framework, if you’re looking for a solid Python framework, consider these five.

Any tech enthusiast agrees that frameworks let us write less code and develop faster, allowing developers to focus on business logic and making their lives easier.

As a web developer, you need a framework that enables rapid development and deployment. Beyond coding, you must understand server‑side architecture and deliver applications to browsers.

Below are five Python frameworks that web developers may find interesting. Some are full‑stack and useful beyond Python.

Django

Django is the first name that comes to mind for Python frameworks. It accelerates web development and scales well. Maintained by the non‑profit Django Software Foundation, it has many experienced contributors and receives frequent updates to stay compatible with the latest Python versions.

It’s open‑source, downloadable from its official site, supports numerous database engines, and powers large sites like Instagram. It can also be used for developing socket‑based games.

Beginners often start with Django because of its relatively easy learning curve.

CherryPy

CherryPy is a minimalist Python web framework that simplifies development. It works like any object‑oriented Python program and runs on the latest Python, Jython, or Android.

Our company has used CherryPy for nearly a decade and will continue to use it in 2018 for high‑quality production applications.

Key features include built‑in analysis, a flexible plugin system, and the ability to run multiple HTTP servers simultaneously.

web2py

When ease of use is paramount, web2py stands out. It requires no installation or configuration files and can run directly from a USB drive. The framework follows the MVC pattern.

While many frameworks have dropped support for older Python versions, web2py still supports Python 2.6‑2.7. Its authentication system works with LDAP, and it supports many database engines with a built‑in ticket system for bug tracking.

The latest version was released in September 2017 and remains one of the simplest, most beginner‑friendly frameworks for 2018.

TurboGears

TurboGears continues to improve, with TurboGears 2 offering enhanced features while addressing pain points other frameworks ignore.

It is a single‑file application that runs on Python and can be extended into a full‑stack solution. It supports projects of varying complexity, offers real‑time multi‑database support, and provides a flexible ORM. Minimal configuration and straightforward documentation make it an attractive choice.

Pylons

Pylons offers an online debugger that simplifies error tracking. Influenced heavily by Ruby on Rails, its Routes and WebHelpers components bring Rails‑style features to Python, extending the WSGI standard for better reusability and modularity.

This open‑source framework is backed by an experienced team and gives developers a “home‑like” feeling when working with Python.

Conclusion

Overall, web developers have a wealth of frameworks to choose from. The five listed above have stood the test of time and are expected to continue evolving in the coming years.