Why you should use Django/Python

It's not a question of our believes, but only about the development efficiency.

Why Python?

We've got experience in web-developing on Perl and PHP, but solely working on Python these days. Python gives us simple and fast language closer to compile-based C++/Java by its way of development. At the same time it's a flexible and agile thanks its interpreted nature.

As well we are experienced in developing in Java (check out our projects on  http://gwt.org.ua/en/blog/). We juggle between using Java or Python depending on project. But comparing to Java, Python's code would be times smaller in size, and it beats Java by efficiency in developing web-sites.

Why Django?

 Djangoproject: Django is a high-level Python Web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design.

• It's really well-made framework with MVC(Model-View-Controller) architecture, that helps us build consistent applications
• Huge amount of code reduced by hidden functionality of the framework. It gives us:
  • Object-relational mapper
  • Automatic admin interface
  • Elegant URL design
  • Template system
  • Cache system
  • Internationalization
  • and much more of the reusable code for web-development
• Supports databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQLite
• OS-independent
•  Google App Engine - virtual hosting platform for distributed web-apps, based on modified version of Django
• Version 1.0 released and API freezed
• Pluggable components, simple in expansion and customizing
• Great community, that:
  • documents well framework itself:  http://www.djangoproject.com/documentation/
  • shares a lot of open-source components:  http://code.google.com/search/#q=django
  • write open-books for introducing new developers:  http://www.djangobook.com/
  • posts a lot of samples & blog entries:  http://www.djangosnippets.org/ ,  http://djangosearch.com/
  • helps you find a subcontractor:  http://djangopeople.net/ or a job:  http://djangogigs.com/
  • as well we participating on our http://django.org.ua/

Sites, that are using Django

•  LJWorld.com - An industry-leading newspaper site
•  Washington Post U.S. Congress Votes Database - Lets you browse every vote in the U.S. Congress since 1991
•  Toronto's city magazine
•  music.aol.ca - AOL Canada's music site offers free music online to all Canadian music fans
•  The Big Art Mob - The UK’s first comprehensive survey of Public Art

See more on  Django-powered sites

What could you need more

Modern web is impossible to imagine without interactivity on every page. We could add those with proven tools.

AJAX/Javascript

So far Javascript is a client-side language, and we can't expect our users to view the site only in well tested browsers, it's better from start to rely on frameworks that solves the compatibility issues. We chose  Jquery - quite popular tiny in its footprint lib. As well, as Django, it has huge community, that shares plugins for every day use:  http://plugins.jquery.com/

RIA - Rich Internet Applications

Pure Javascript could not be debuged and that complicates developing huge web-apps on it. Google made  Google Web Toolkit(GWT), that helps develop application on Java and compile later into Javascript for production. This is how Gmail, Google Docs are made and we used in over  GWT-PF - CRUD framework.