[python-uk] Web Development with Python

[Andy Robinson]

Simon Faulkner wrote:
> I often have to write small web databases - nothing too fancy, just a 
> table or 2 and a few forms/reports.  Sometimes it's just a web frontend 
> to a program othertimes more like a database for tracking items.
> 
> I have used Python and MySQL in CGI but it seems quite long winded.
> 
> I have used Zope/Plone but it is quite a heavyweight solution for a 
> small app and quite slow unless you do a lot of caching.
> 
> I have looked at Ruby/Rails but it seems a shame to loose what 
> experience I have in Python by switching to a new language.
> 
> Does anyone have any experience in this field and/or can suggest what I 
> might try or look at to continue developing in Python?
> 

CGI is only longwinded if you do it all from scratch; there
are many nice frameworks and paradigms to give you a head start.

I have been playing with Django (www.djangoproject.com) and it's
beautiful.  You essentially declare the database schema in the
Python model, and you get a very nice web interface for add/edit/delete
stuff autogenerated for you.  Be prepared to spend half a day
setting up though.

The other well-documented approach at the moment is Turbogears
which includes CherryPy for the web app and SQLObject for
database management.  Nothing 'for free' but a very clean
approach.

Hope this helps,

- Andy Robinson