What do you want in a new web framework?

[Tim Roberts]

"Paul Boddie" <paul at boddie.org.uk> wrote:
>Marc 'BlackJack' Rintsch wrote:
>> emrahayanoglu wrote:
>> >
>> > Now i want to listen all of you. What do you want in that web
>> > framework(Easy use of Database, Easy use of XML, GUI Designer, etc...)?
>>
>> Don't think that yet another Python web framework is really needed.
>
>Why not? I know that some people are probably basking in the glory of
>supposedly having their favourite framework recently blessed by the
>BDFL, whilst others lament the almost unfair rejection of their own
>framework on possibly dubious grounds by the very same person (thus
>seeing their "winner takes all" strategy backfire totally), but open
>source and various other network-effect movements benefit from lots of
>people trying different things (the "scratch your own itch"
>observation) rather than everyone gathering together for one big
>strategy meeting.

Ordinarily, I think the "do it yourself" nature of Python is a great thing,
and I would never try to dissuade someone from reinventing something
themselves.  However, in the case of web frameworks, I believe Marc is
fundamentally correct: the web framework proliferation in Python is
actually doing the language a huge disservice.

Consider Ruby.  If someone asks, "I'd like to do a web site with Ruby, what
should I use?", the answer comes back loud, clear, and unanimous: Ruby on
Rails.  If someone asks, "I'd like to do a web site with Python, what
should I use?", she gets 25 different answers.  "Look at HTMLGen, Cheetah,
WebWare, CherryPy, Karrigell, Django, Pylons, Plone, Zope, TurboGears,
etc., etc.", none of which are pre-installed in the typical Linux
distribution.  To the non-programming decision maker, that kind of response
makes Python look unprofessional -- a toy.

Now, please do not send me ugly emails accusing me of running down Python.
I've been a Python believer since 1.52.  I've done web sites in at least 5
of the frameworks, and I even wrote one of the wiki pages that compares web
frameworks.  However, it is only the fact that I *AM* a true Python
believer that gave me the patience and incentive to try 5 different
frameworks.  If a corporate decision maker were involved, that would never
happen.  Python would simply fall off of the list of options, and the job
would get done in PHP or Ruby on Rails.

I agree with Marc.  PLEASE do not create "yet another Python web
framework."  Let's pick one, and join together to turn it into the One,
True, Unquestioned Web Solution.
-- 
- Tim Roberts, timr at probo.com
  Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.