There’s been a lot of talk about the Django web framework on our blog. We’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Django and compared Django, Rails, and Laravel. Yet there are still a few crucial points to consider that can help you decide whether or not to go with Django development.
In this article, we’ll start by answering What is Django? We’ll discuss the relevance of Django in 2019, its future, where Django works well, and when it’s better to adopt some other technology. We’ll also talk about Django’s stability and scalability and walk you through the steps of hiring a Django development company.
Django is an open-source web framework built with the Python language that aims for flexibility, simplicity, scalability, and reliability. A framework is a collection of modules and prewritten code that help developers with particular tasks — in the case of Django, with developing dynamic web apps. Rather than creating an application from scratch using Python, you can instead use Django to implement functionality like authentication, authorization, third-party APIs, and a content management system (CMS). To see all available Django packages, visit djangopackages.org.
If you’re interested in more information, read about what Python and Django are.
Yes, it is. Large organizations including Instagram, Pinterest, Disqus, and Mozilla are the best proof: they actively use Django and invest in its development. Additionally, every year there are more and more developers and businesses leveraging Django. According to Statista, in 2018 Django ranked among the most used and most sought-after frameworks, libraries, and tools globally according to software engineers. Stack Overflow put Django on its list of most loved technologies of 2018.
There are many reasons for Django’s popularity. First and foremost, Django provides everything necessary for developing modern apps. It has a mature ecosystem that continues to get better thanks to its strong community. The number of developers contributing to the Django framework on an ongoing basis has grown significantly. As of March 2019, the Django community consisted of 11,720 people. There were around 4,000 packages available, compared to 3,400 in 2017. In addition, Django is secure, versatile, scalable, high-performing, and well-documented.
When we’re talking about the future of Django, we should also consider the future of Python. Python has been growing in popularity. For two years in a row, it’s been the language developers most want to learn and was ranked the third favorite programming language in 2018. According to the 2018 Stack Overflow Survey, Python surpassed PHP and C# in popularity. In addition, Python is the number one choice for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning; and these are things that aren’t going away anytime soon.
Read also: Why Use Python for AI and Machine Learning?
Taking into account the popularity of Python, we can safely say that Django will be one of the major players in the web space down the road. According to Python Developer Surveys by JetBrains, Django was the most popular Python framework throughout 2016 and 2017. As of 2018, Django was ranked among the best frameworks by Python developers alongside Flask, a Python microframework.
Developers at Steelkiwi are convinced that the Django framework won’t disappear anytime soon, since it’s an instrument that solves business problems well and quickly and, what matters most, is reliable.
There are many reasons why product owners decide to go with Django web development. Things that make Django a top choice include:
- Fast development and simplicity. Django, like Python, has simple syntax and is fast to code in. It was designed for rapid development, making it cost-efficient.
- Robust security. Django was created with security in mind. There are lots of out-of-the-box security features (which we’ll talk about a bit later).
- Thousands of packages. Django is fully loaded and provides lots of packages and extras to help you implement all sorts of features from user authentication to content management systems.
- Versatility. Django is good for almost any web application.
- SEO-friendly development. There are lots of tools Django provides to help you with SEO, such as the Django SEO framework, the sitemap framework, django-robots, and the redirects app.
- Maturity. Django is growing and is quite popular among companies, including large organizations like The Washington Post, National Geographic, and Open Stack. It has great documentation and a rich and evolving community that constantly works on improving it.
- Great scalability. Django is great at meeting traffic demands and is thus used by high-load platforms like Instagram.
- Built-in admin panel. Django provides a custom and extendable admin panel by default so you can easily add and modify users and work with groups and user permissions.
Since the Django framework is simple and transparent, quick and secure, flexible, and versatile, lots of successful companies take advantage of it. Among the best Django apps are Instagram, Disqus, Pinterest, Bitbucket, Udemy, NASA, National Geographic, Open Stack, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Open Knowledge Foundation.
Django is most widely used in business and industry, arts and entertainment, shopping, and internet and telecommunications, according to SimilarTech.
The Python Software Foundation states that “program development using Python is 5–10 times faster than using C/C++, and 3–5 times faster than using Java.” And Django is known for being “invented to meet fast-moving newsroom deadlines, while satisfying the tough requirements of experienced web developers,” meaning it was designed for rapid development and thus is good for prototypes and MVPs. Django allows you to build prototypes with a minimal investment of time and money. For a startup, this provides the ability to quickly present investors with a working prototype and increase the chances of receiving funding for a full-fledged product. For a large business, quick prototyping is a way to try out new ideas and make sure they work before investing a lot of resources.
Django follows the “batteries included” concept, which means it has lots of built-in modules and thousands of open-source packages that offer reusable tools, apps, and sites to create just about anything without reinventing the wheel. Developers can thus devote more effort to the unique parts of a project. Django is a perfect fit for custom development, including social networking websites, on-demand delivery platforms, and online learning marketplaces. Additionally, Django “doesn’t get in your way” — there are no compulsory imports, mandatory XML configuration files, or required third-party libraries. You can implement whatever you want, adding just the necessary functionality.
With Django, you can follow best practices in building secure applications and are provided with great features by default that help you prevent common security pitfalls. Django offers built-in features to protect against cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, clickjacking, SQL injection, and user-generated content, to name a few security risks. This makes Django a perfect fit for government websites, e-commerce apps, and mHealth apps, where security is a priority.
Apart from the use cases already mentioned, the Django web application framework is good for developing:
- Custom CRM systems
- Content management systems
- Communication and collaboration software
- Online booking and appointment scheduling platforms
- Real estate property management systems
- Document management systems
Additionally, you can use Django for standalone features including:
- Advanced filtering
- Complex calculations
- Admin dashboards
- Algorithm-based generators
Django development isn’t always the perfect solution. There are still several cases when it’s better to go with some other technology.
- Microservices and apps with no backend. Django is a backend framework that works with a database. It’s responsible for authorization, authentication, file operations, messaging, and payment processing, among other things. So if you don’t need that full backend service, then you won’t need to use Django.
- Big data apps. Django executes tasks on demand, which is why it isn’t good for big data projects where an application collects data, analyzes it, and stores results on a regular basis.
- Gaming platforms. The Django framework isn’t the best option for game web apps. Of course, if it’s a simple game, then Django can serve as the backend alongside some socket server. But we suggest considering another framework if you want to start game development.
Yes, Django is fairly stable. Major Django players like Pinterest, Instagram, Disqus, and Mozilla have handled considerable spikes in traffic to more than 50,000 hits per second, showing the great stability of this framework. In fact, one of the major reasons why many opt for Django is its ability to handle the load of thousands of users daily.
Yes, it does. Large apps like Instagram, The Washington Post, and NASA demonstrate that Django scales well. The framework is crafted to make use of as much hardware as you need. In addition, Django takes advantage of a shared-nothing architecture (SN), which represents great potential for scaling. SN makes it possible to scale things independently at any level.
Perhaps you’re in a situation where you want to hire Django developers and you’re a non-technical founder. Hiring technical people when you have no engineering background or skills is a real challenge. To make hiring easier, we offer some useful tips on where and how to find the best development company for your project.
The first question we need to answer is where to look for a Python/Django development company. There are lots of freelancing marketplaces where you can hire Python software development companies or individual software developers. You can find Python developers on GoodFirms, Clutch.co, Upwork, Appfuture, GitHub Jobs, Python.org, Stack Overflow, Freelancer, Remote Python, People Per Hour, and many other platforms. On these platforms, you can find full company profiles, ratings, and reviews. You’ll get the inside scoop on a company’s experience and see whether previous and current clients are satisfied with the services provided.
When you’ve found qualified candidates, it’s time to see who’s best suited for you. Below are a few tips from Steelkiwi:
- Check out the company’s portfolio of Python- and Django-focused projects. Usually, top software development companies have a projects page on their website demonstrating their hands-on experience. Examine their portfolio to see their achievements and proficiency.
- Interview. Meeting a team that’s going to build software for you is an essential step. You can meet them either in-person or via video chat. An interview will reveal whether the team is excited about delivering a project for you and will show their technical expertise. If you’re non-technical, we suggest you hire a technical Django consulting advisor for this. Additionally, we advise that you choose a team who wants to create not only code but also a working relationship. Look for a team that’s trustworthy, capable, experienced, and communicative.
- Ask for references. Real feedback from past clients is the best testimony to quality. Check whether past clients were happy with the team’s interaction, product development, project management, and communication. If the development company has previously built successful products, they’ll be able to deliver high-quality Django services for you as well.
- Request a quote. It’s your right to know how much your project will cost. You can request a rough estimate from a company you’re looking to hire. But mind that to make this possible, you’ll need to provide requirements for all the functionality you’re planning to implement.
For more extensive information on hiring Django developers, read about how to find and hire a Python/Django development company.
We hope our Q&A guide to Django has provided you a better understanding of Django web development. If you would like us to answer any other questions, feel free to ask. Meanwhile, we suggest you browse our project page to see the Django apps we’ve crafted so far.