Is Django dead framework?

The transcription discusses whether Django, a web development framework, is still relevant. Some developers argue that it feels outdated and slow to adapt to new trends, while others point out its large user base and market share. Django has been making efforts to modernize, including introducing asynchronous support to handle multiple requests simultaneously. However, its comprehensive documentation can be overwhelming for newcomers. The Django community is active and supportive, with forums and conferences dedicated to sharing knowledge. Django also benefits from third-party packages and features like the object-relational mapper. While Django may not be the best choice for all projects, it remains a reliable option for complex web applications. The framework needs to balance its legacy with openness to new ideas and innovations to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry. All right, so are we rolling? Okay, cool, cool. Let's jump right into it then. Today we're tackling a question that's been making the rounds in the web dev world. Is Django, you know, dead, dramatic? Yeah, maybe a little. But in tech, even a hint of change gets people fired up, am I right? Absolutely, things move fast, gotta stay ahead of the curve. And you, our listeners, you're obviously plugged in, want the real story, not just the hype. So that's our mission today. We've got articles, opinions, even some hard data to dissect. Lay it on us. Okay, but first, a quick level set for anyone new to this whole Django thing. Think of it as this robust toolbox for building websites, especially if Python's your jam. Yeah, it's got all these pre-built components so you're not reinventing the wheel every time. Exactly, but here's the catch. There's this whisper going around that Django's, well, losing its edge. Some developers are saying it feels a bit, I don't know, outdated. Like it's dragging its feet when it comes to new trends. I see, so it's like that old, reliable tool in your workshop that maybe hasn't seen an upgrade in a while. Right, but then you look at the numbers and Django is far from gone. We're talking over 42,000 active users and a market share that's, well, let's just say it's giving the competition a run for its money. Yeah, those aren't exactly the stats of a dying framework. It's more like it's holding its own, thriving even, you could say. Okay, so the numbers paint a pretty clear picture. Django's still a force to be reckoned with, but let's not ignore the critics, right? David DeHaan, in his article, The Decline of Django, he doesn't hold back. Oh, he goes there. He says Django has stagnated, especially since version 2.0. Calls out the documentation, the tools, even, but it's not just about Django's age. He's saying it's been slow to adapt to some pretty big deals in web development. Like what gives the rundown? Asynchronous support, for one. It's a big deal in modern web development and DeHaan argues that Django hasn't fully embraced it. He even questions whether Django's traditional way of doing things can handle the rise of those slick, super interactive, single-page applications. Right, those are legitimate concerns. The web is all about speed and responsiveness these days and users expect a seamless, dynamic experience. So how is Django responding to these challenges? Is it clinging to the past or is it ready to evolve? Well, Django's developers haven't exactly been sitting idle. They've actually been making some, dare I say, impressive moves to modernize the framework. And yes, that includes tackling that asynchronous support issue head on. Okay, now this is where I need that expert explanation. What exactly does asynchronous support even mean and why should Django developers care? Imagine you're at a restaurant, right? In the old way of doing things, the waiter takes your order, goes to the kitchen, and waits until your food is ready before taking any other orders. Got it, makes sense. One order at a time. Exactly, efficient in a simple world, but in a busy restaurant, you'd have people waiting forever. That's where asynchronous support comes in. It's like that waiter who could take your order, send it to the kitchen, and then immediately take another order without waiting for your food to be ready. So it's all about multitasking, keeping things moving, even with a lot happening behind the scenes. Okay, I like where this is going, but how does this translate to lines of code in Django? In the past, Django handled one request at a time. Now with these complex web apps and everybody wanting things like now, that approach just wasn't cutting it anymore. Django adopting ASGI, that's Asynchronous Server Gateway Interface, it's like transforming that restaurant into a well-oiled multitasking machine. It allows Django to juggle multiple requests at the same time. No more waiting around for things to finish. Sounds like a win for everyone. But is this like a sudden change for Django, or have they been easing into this whole asynchronous thing? They've been very strategic about it, introducing new features gradually with each version, 3.1, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, no rushing into things, which for a framework as widely used as Django, that's crucial. So it's less about jumping on the bandwagon, more like a carefully planned integration. Exactly. And each of these updates builds on the last. In 3.1, we saw asynchronous views and middleware, think of those as like the foundation for handling all those simultaneous requests. Then came 4.0, which brought us asynchronous cache backends, making data retrieval way smoother and faster. It's like they're laying the groundwork for a truly async Django experience. Okay, now that is seriously impressive. They're not just slapping on a feature here and there, they're really rethinking how Django works at its core. But let's shift gears for a moment and talk about another point of contention, Django's documentation. Ah, yes, the documentation. It's thorough, to say the least. Thorough, meaning? Some developers find it a bit overwhelming. There's so much information, so many details, that it can be hard to find what you need. Sometimes you just want the quick start guide, you know? So Django's commitment to being thorough might actually be working against it. It's a double-edged sword, for sure. On one hand, that comprehensive documentation shows that they're committed to transparency. They want to give you, the developer, every bit of information you could ever need. But on the other hand, yeah, it can be intimidating, especially for those just starting out. So it's about finding that balance between being comprehensive and being approachable, which, come to think of it, is a challenge for any kind of documentation radar. Absolutely. And that's where Django's community really shines. It's one of the most active and helpful communities I've ever seen. Like, picture a bustling city, right? But instead of just random people, everyone here knows Django. You've got forums where you can ask anything, no matter how basic or complex, and people bend over backwards to help you out. That's a breath of fresh air, honestly. So many online communities can be, well, let's just say, not so welcoming. Yeah, not here. It's all about sharing knowledge. And it's not just about the forums, either. There are online communities where people swap tips and tricks, code snippets, you name it. Even conferences dedicated to, like, all things Django. So you've got this built-in support system, which is huge when you're dealing with a framework as, let's be honest, powerful as Django. Absolutely. And that's not even mentioning the third-party packages. Think of these as, like, pre-built bits of code that solve really common problems, saving you a ton of time and headaches. It's like having a team of expert contractors working behind the scenes, constantly adding new tools to that Django toolbox we were talking about. And speaking of tools, gotta admit, I'm still a bit of a Django fanboy myself. I love how it prioritizes quality and security and the object-relational mapper. Don't even get me started. Oh, the ORM. What is it about that that you love so much? It's like having a translator between my Python code and the database. Instead of writing these complicated SQL queries, I can just, you know, talk to the database using Python. It makes everything so much smoother. I'm with you there. Django's ORM is definitely a prime example of how the framework makes life easier for developers. It just handles those complex interactions behind the scenes so you can focus on the, you know, the fun stuff. Exactly. But I'm also realistic. I know Django's not the solution for absolutely everything. If I were building a, like, super lean API, I might go with something like FastAPI, maybe. But for those bigger, more complex web apps, Django still feels like the right choice. It's got that, I don't know, that battle-tested reliability that you just don't get with everything. I think that's key, right? Knowing the strengths of each tool in your kit. And Django's strength is definitely in its ability to handle those big, intricate web applications. So to circle back to our original question, is Django dead? Based on what we've discussed, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say, no, not even close. Yeah, Django is alive and well, for sure. But it's like anything else in tech. It can't just rest on its laurels. This industry moves fast. Always about what's next. So where does Django go from here? How does it stay relevant in a world that's constantly evolving? That's the question, isn't it? Yeah. And I don't think there's an easy answer. It's about finding that balance between, you know, honoring its legacy, what's made it so popular, and also being open to new ideas, new ways of doing things. Like that contractor we were talking about earlier. They've got years of experience, a solid reputation, but they also have to invest in the latest tools and techniques if they wanna stay ahead of the game. It really is. So we've established that Django is far from fading away. It's adapting, evolving, and it's got this whole community behind it. But like you said, web dev is constantly changing. What's next for Django? What does it need to do to stay ahead of the curve, to keep pushing boundaries? You hit the nail on the head. Django can't just play it safe. It needs to embrace that experimental spirit, even if it means, you know, bending the rules a little bit. I like the sound of that. But what would that look like in practice? What kind of rule breaking are we talking about? Well, we talked about asynchronous programming, right? Django's made some big strides there. But imagine taking it even further, fully asynchronous workflows for things like background processing, real-time updates, even integrating machine learning models directly into Django apps. Now we're talking. Okay, now you're speaking my language. That's the kind of innovation that gets me excited about the future of Django. But it's not just about the tech itself, is it? It's about cultivating that culture of experimentation within the Django community. 100%. It's about creating a space where developers feel empowered to experiment, to try new things, to share those what-if ideas, and contribute to Django's evolution. Turning that bustling city we talked about into a hotbed of invention, constantly pushing the limits of what Django can do. Exactly. And that's what makes this whole conversation so exciting, right? We're not just talking about lines of code. We're talking about the power of creativity, collaboration, and pushing technology to its absolute limits. On that note, I think it's time to wrap up our deep dive into the world of Django. It's been a pleasure exploring all this with you. We've covered a lot of ground, market trends, the ins and outs of asynchronous programming, even the philosophy behind choosing the right tool for the job. But most importantly, I hope we've shown that Django is far from over. It's a powerful, evolving framework with a bright future. So to our listeners, keep those Django fires burning and never stop exploring. Hear, hear. Until next time. Stay curious, everyone.