CSC/ECE 517 Fall 2014/ch1a a7 ch

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Web2py Framework

Web2py is a free open source full-stack framework for rapid development of fast, scalable, secure and portable database-driven web-based applications written in Python.[1]

Background

Web2py was originally introduced as a teaching tool to used to demonstrate ease of use and deployment. It was modeled after Ruby on Rails and Django, and as such focuses on rapid development and adheres to the Model View Controller architecture pattern.

Here are some of the features of Web2py[2][3]:

  • Web2py runs on Windows, Mac, Unix/Linux, Google App Engine, Amazon EC2, and almost any web hosting via Python 2.5/2.6/2.7/pypy, or Java with Jython.
  • Accessible anywhere, without any installation required
  • Open source licensed under the GNU LGPL v3.0 License
  • Support for mutiple databases including: SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, FireBird, Oracle, IBM DB2, Informix, Ingres, and Google App Engine
  • Equipped with a Data Abstraction Layer that removes the requirement of knowing how to write SQL by doing it for you in real-time
  • Role-based authorization of resources
  • Error logging and ticketing system
  • An web-based administrative interface for ease of interaction

Examples

There are several websites currently powered by Web2py, including a website hosting the ever-popular game Minesweeper.

As previously mentioned, Web2py doesn't require that you install anything, you may access and demo the capabilities online through their demo administrative interface. At the time of this article's writing, the save demo is not fully-functional.

You may download and run web2py by following the instructions on this page.

Code Examples

A complete list web2py-provided examples can be found here.

Hello World

Creating a web2py application can be as simple as writing a few lines in a single controller file (default.py): 

def index(): return "Hello World"

File Upload[3]

In the Model: 

db=DAL('sqlite://storage.db')
db.define_table('image', 
    Field('name', notnull=True),
    Field('file','upload'))

In the Controller: 

def index():
    form = SQLFORM(db.image).process()
    if form.accepted:
        response.flash = 'image uploaded'
    return locals()

In the View: 

{{extend 'layout.html'}}
<h1>Image upload form</h1>
{{=form}}

Forms[5]

In the Model: 

db = DAL('sqlite://webform.sqlite')
db.define_table('register',
    Field('first_name', requires=IS_NOT_EMPTY()),
    Field('last_name', requires=IS_NOT_EMPTY()),
    Field('email', requires=IS_NOT_EMPTY()))

In the Controller: 

def display_your_form():
    form = SQLFORM(db.register)
    return dict(form=form)

In the View: 

<center>
<br /><br /><br />
<h1>Web Form</h1>
<br />
<h2>Inputs:</h2>
{{=form}}
<h2>Submitted variables:</h2>
{{=BEAUTIFY(request.vars)}}
</center>

Architecture

Web2py follows a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture.

  • Model - The data
  • View - Presents the data in a user-friendly way.
  • Controller - Acts as the glue between the model and view and handles the logic for displaying the data.

This diagram shows an example of how web2py handles requests and renders the request to the browser:

Comparison to other Frameworks

Since web2py was inspiried by Rails and Django, it draws ideas from each.

The creators of web2py borrowed the Ruby on Rails approach of convention over configuration and Django's approach of generating forms from database tables and including a large amount of validators out of the box.

Controllers

Ruby on Rails

class MyTestController < ApplicationController
 def index
 render_text “Hello World”
 end
end

Django

Django requires the user to specify all of his/her imports in the code: 

from django.http import HttpResponse
def index(request):
 return HttpResponse("Hello World”)

Web2py

def index(): 
 return "Hello World"

Models

Ruby on Rails

class Article < ActiveRecord::Migration
 def self.up
 create_table :articles do |t|
 t.column :name, :string
 t.column :description, :text
 end
 end
end

Django

class Article(models.Model):
 name = models.StringField()
 description = models.TextField()

Web2py

Article=db.define_table(‘Article’,
 SQLField(‘email’,’string’),
 SQLField(‘description’,’text’)

Views

Ruby on Rails

<table>
 <% @recipes.each do |recipe| %>
 <tr>
 <td><%= recipe.name %></td>
 </tr>
 <% end %>
</table>

Django

<table>
{% for recipe in recipes %}
 <tr>
 <td>{{recipe.name}}</td>
 </tr>
{% endfor %} 
</table>

Web2py

<table>
 {{for recipe in recipes:}}>
 <tr>
 <td>{{=recipe.name}}</td>
 </tr>
 {{pass}}
</table>

Distinguishing Features

Model/Controller Execution

In web2py, the Model and Controller code is not modual; rather, they are executed in a global environment with each individual HTTP request. This is different from most web development frameworks and presents a unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

  • Simplifies development - no need to import
  • Provides a clean reset of objects with every HTTP request - no need to worry about object states, overriding requests, conflicting HTTP, etc.
  • Multiple applications can exist within the same instance without conflicting with one another

Disadvantages:

  • Models and Controllers are not class based - code sometimes must be frequently repeated
  • Inability to inherit
  • Non-modular; the developer must be mindful of the order of execution

Online IDE

web2py is fully supported by an online IDE. This covers the full development spectrum, including debugging, testing, maintenance, databases, internationalization, etc. This makes it simple to begin developement without setting up any kind of environment or even installing an IDE.

Getting Started in web2py

Debian/Ubuntu installation:

  1. Install the 'unzip' package if you do not have it 
    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unzip
  2. Download the framework from the website and unzip it 
    wget http://www.web2py.com/examples/static/web2py_src.zip
unzip web2py_src.zip
cd web2py
  3. Run the web interface 
    python web2py.py
  4. If all goes well, you should be see your local web2py server running in the terminal window. Ctrl + C will terminate it.

References

1. http://www.web2py.com/init/default/index
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web2py
3. http://www.web2py.com/init/default/what
4. http://wiki.expertiza.ncsu.edu/index.php/CSC/ECE_517_Fall_2013/oss_SocialMediaFeeds
5. http://mherman.org/blog/2012/12/01/crash-course-in-web2py-part-2-web-forms/#.VBT9d_ldVuJ
6. http://www.web2py.com/examples/static/web2py_vs_others.pdf/ Web2py vs other frameworks
7. https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-the-web2py-framework-to-quickly-build-your-python-app

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