Why And When Should You Consider Django For Web Development?

If all that comes to your mind, when you hear the name Django is Tarantino’s movie or jazz guitarist, today you’ll enter a whole new world. Because you can also use Django for app development.

Django is a great tool for web development meaning websites and web applications (also mobile applications). This article brings you basic information about Django, its advantages, and business use justification.

What is Django?

Django is a Python framework for web development first released in 2005. However, it had been first created in 2003 by Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison who used Python while working for Lawrence Journal-World newspaper. The latest stable version 3.1.4 was released on the 1^st of December 2020.

The justification for Django is that you can use a well-known and tested programming language (Python) in projects it wasn’t designed for. Simply put, Django augments the application of Python and makes it super-easy to create your next platform-agnostic web app.

The framework is written in Python and you use Python for Django web development. The aim of Django is to make web development easier, faster, and more efficient. Together with a platform for web development, you get a plethora of libraries and out-of-the-box solutions.

In case it’s your first contact with Python too, let’s mention some basics before going into details of Django’s advantages for business web development.

What is Python?

Python is older than some Python developers today. It was first shared in February 1991 as a 0.9.0 version. Nearly 30 years of development brought us to the latest stable version 3.9.0 released on 5^th May 2020.

According to the Stack Overflow survey for 2020, Python is the 3^rd most loved and THE most wanted language among professional developers. Python is an open-source solution with a big, growing, and lively community. Moreover, it has plenty of resources and high-quality documentation.

It’s easy to learn and to use, and what’s important from the QA point of view, it’s also easy to read. It’s no surprise because code readability is one of Python’s core values.

Python is platform-agnostic, so you don’t need to bother writing different code for various devices. As long as you don’t include platform-specific elements, of course. It speeds up the development process and saves money.

To make it even better, after three decades of evolution, Python comes with a vast library plus you can use additional external libraries. Overall, there are more than 200 thousand packages available.

It’s often used for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning projects thanks to its simple syntax, a plethora of machine learning libraries, and readability important for collaborative coding.

To learn more about Python, have a look at our Python Entrepreneur’s Guide. And now, let’s check the advantages of Django in web development!

Pros of Django in web development

First of all, Django delivers all the advantages of Python. That alone should convince you to give this framework a chance. However, there are at least these 11 more pros of using Django in web app development you should know before deciding on your tech stack.

1. Highly structured framework – some may see it as a downside, but Django prevents you from opening an open door. You pick basics from vast Django libraries and focus on the unique features of your application. So, if there’s a working solution, you should use it, so you can save time and avoid security breaches.
2. Backward compatibility - Django promises API stability and forwards-compatibility since version 1.0. According to Django documentation, no public API will not be moved or renamed without providing backward-compatible aliases.
3. Object Relation Mapping - ORM layer handles database access, security, sessions, routing, and multi-language support. You’ll also find the django-admin panel there that enables model data management. With Django ORM you don’t need to know and use the language of your database. It makes the development process easier since there’s no need to write specific queries on your own. ORM takes care of it for you.
4. MVT - you can call it an evolution of the MVC pattern. However, in MVT the View isn’t connected to the Model. MVT is much easier to change, so again, you save time. The data flow and interaction between view and model are controlled by the framework, and you don’t need to write it on your own.
5. Best practices - Django follows and spreads the best practices in software development. The framework helps you Keep it simple, stupid (KISS), and Don’t repeat yourself (DRY). It makes your application less vulnerable and reduces coding and maintenance costs.
6. Out-of-the-box solutions - Django comes with plenty of ready-to-use solutions and libraries. It’s great not only for big development projects, but it also makes Django great for MVPs. 
7. High-quality documentation - comprehensive documentation makes developers’ lives easier. It’s important for the company too for it helps with future maintenance. You’ll find plenty of information on Django’s official website, but there are also many external sources like GitHub, Django Girls, or even companies like Mozilla.
8. Easy to read - Django is easy to read and understand. It’s important even when you work on your own code. After a year or two, anyone can forget about certain solutions applied in their software. High readability prevents from spending too much time digging in the code.
9. Scalability - Django is ready to scale up when you need it. You can start with an MVP, upgrade to a full product, and grow to the most popular service keeping this framework. It might be a little more challenging when you deal with very innovative applications, but after all, it applies to all languages and frameworks.
10. Third-party add-ons - there are many third-party applications, plug-ins, and packages to use with Django. They extend the already big versatility of the framework. If somehow ‘basic’ Django isn’t enough for your project, you can be sure that there’s a third-party solution to your problem available and tested.
11. Security - Django takes care of your app security. First, it comes with tested solutions, so you don’t need to invent the wheel. Moreover, according to Django documentation on security, “using Django templates protects you against the majority of XSS attacks“. Furthermore, Django has built-in protection against cross-site request forgery, SQL injection, clickjacking, and more. All these features make Django a safe technology worth consideration if security is on your mind.

When to use Django for web development?

So if Django has so many advantages, what projects are best to use it? Where can you make the most of this framework?

Let’s start with all the cross-platform web applications. Especially if you don’t need to use platform-specific features. Django is a good solution when you need a reliable and safe framework (e.g. fintech apps). 

If you want to start with a quick MVP for your web app, Django will make the job. If you’re interested in Python web development using Django, you don’t need to hesitate. Just get the basics out of the Django box, add your unique value, and let it serve your customers.

You should also consider this framework if you already have experienced Python developers - their transition will take no time. No need to introduce a new development team to your business means quicker time to market and a higher learning curve.

Finally, just like Python, Django is the go-to technology if your web app needs AI or Machine Learning. It suits the needs of abstract ideas behind such solutions, but there are also many libraries created particularly for AI and ML in web applications.

You may be wondering now that if Django is so good and versatile, then what companies use it in real life? Are there any?

Who uses Django for app development?

Python is a very popular language, so no wonder that Django is used by many companies worldwide. To name only a few:

• Spotify - famous streaming service that originated in Sweden uses Django for MVPs and some of their applications
• Instagram - this social media platform relies heavily on Python, and hence Django
• Disqus - incredibly popular comment hosting service moved to Django years ago
• The Onion - this satirical online newspaper migrated from Drupal to Django a long time ago, shortly after they had ceased to publish in print.
• Prezi - company providing virtual presentation software makes heavy use of Python and Django.

You can clearly see that you can use Django for various types of web development projects. But, that’s enough about others. What kind of project do you have in mind?

Where to find professionals for my Django web development project?

We know how hard it can be to hire a Django developer today. Although it’s popular technology, there’s a high demand on the market as well. Therefore, we collect detailed information about all our talents and make sure that you can recruit experienced Django developers who suit your business needs best. Let us learn bout your new web development project, so we can provide you with the talents you need.