Uncovering the Best Roll Alternative for Your Python Web Projects
Roll, described as a "pico framework with performances and aesthetic in mind," offers async everywhere routing, cookie handling, and an extensible event system. While it's great for those prioritizing speed and a minimalistic approach, it intentionally omits a templating system and extensive extensions. If you find yourself needing more features, a different architectural approach, or simply a broader community, exploring a robust Roll alternative is a wise move. This guide dives into the top contenders that can provide the functionality you might be missing.
Top Roll Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a full-fledged framework, a micro-framework, or something in between, the Python ecosystem offers a wealth of powerful and flexible web development tools. Let's explore some of the best alternatives to Roll that can elevate your next project.
Django
Django is a high-level Python Web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. Unlike Roll's pico framework approach, Django is a batteries-included solution, offering robust features like an ORM, admin panel, and extensive security features. It's a free and open-source platform available on Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, and Python, making it a powerful choice for large-scale web development projects that require comprehensive developer tools and a security-focused architecture.
Flask
Flask is a lightweight web application framework written in Python, offering a contrast to Roll's opinionated minimalism by being even more unopinionated. It's based on the Werkzeug WSGI toolkit and Jinja2 template engine, providing a solid foundation without a built-in database abstraction. Flask is free and open-source, available across Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Python, making it an excellent Roll alternative for those who prefer to pick their own components and build custom solutions with a small footprint.
Pyramid
Pyramid is an open-source web framework written in Python and based on WSGI. It's a minimalistic web framework inspired by Zope, Pylons, and Django, aiming for flexibility and scalability. Similar to Roll in its focus on core web development, Pyramid provides developer tools and is free and open-source, running on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Python. It's a good alternative if you need a framework that can scale from small to large applications while retaining a high degree of control.
Falcon framework
Falcon is a bare-metal Python web API framework designed for building very fast app backends and microservices. Like Roll, it emphasizes performance, but it specifically targets REST APIs, offering highly optimized request and response handling. Falcon is free and open-source, available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is an excellent Roll alternative for projects where building high-performance, resource-efficient APIs is the primary concern.
Bottle
Bottle is a fast, simple, and lightweight WSGI micro web-framework for Python. It's distributed as a single-file module with no dependencies other than Python itself, making it even more minimalistic than Roll in terms of deployment. As a free and open-source option for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Python, Bottle is an ideal Roll alternative for small web development projects or for embedding web capabilities within a larger application without introducing complex dependencies.
jam-py
Jam.py is an event-driven framework specifically designed for the development of web database applications. It offers features like Dockerized deployment and SQLite integration, making it a good Roll alternative for data-centric web applications where rapid development and database interaction are key. It's free and open-source, supported on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Self-Hosted environments, providing a focused solution for specific use cases.
ViUR.is
ViUR – the Information System for the Google App Engine™ platform – is a "sandbox" for designers and developers. It helps you easily build web applications, particularly with features for e-commerce, Google Drive integration, a shopping cart, and a RAD (Rapid Application Development) sandbox. As a free and open-source option for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Self-Hosted environments, ViUR.is presents a unique Roll alternative for those leveraging the Google App Engine ecosystem and needing quick development of feature-rich applications.
Willer Framework
Willer is a PHP framework that highlights features of ORM, MVC, and Bundles. While Roll is Python-specific, Willer offers an alternative for those working in the PHP ecosystem but seeking similar structured development principles, including Object Relational Mapping and MVC patterns. It's free and open-source, compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, and provides developer tools for web development, drawing inspiration from frameworks like Django and Python, despite being PHP-based.
TurboGears
TurboGears 2 is built on top of the experience of several next-generation web frameworks, including TurboGears 1, Django, and Rails. It's a full-stack Python web framework, providing developer tools and a more comprehensive set of features than Roll's pico framework approach. As a free and open-source option for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Python, TurboGears is a strong Roll alternative for developers looking for a productive, convention-over-configuration framework to build complex web applications.
Pylons Framework
Pylons Framework is an open-source Web application framework written in Python that makes extensive use of the Web Server Gateway Interface (WSGI) standard to promote modularity. Like Roll, it offers flexibility, but Pylons is designed to let developers pick their own components rather than providing a rigid structure. It's free and open-source, available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Web, and is a solid Roll alternative for developers who prioritize freedom in component choice and deep customization for their web development projects.
Choosing the right Roll alternative depends entirely on your project's specific requirements, your team's familiarity with different frameworks, and your long-term scalability goals. Whether you need a robust, all-encompassing solution like Django, a minimalist micro-framework like Flask, or a highly specialized tool, the Python web development landscape offers an ideal fit for every need. Explore these options and find the perfect framework to power your next application.