Responder: a Familar HTTP Service Framework

Introduction

• Responder is introduced as a modern HTTP service framework for Python, drawing inspiration from existing tools and frameworks while aiming to innovate and simplify web development.

Historical Context

• Early Web Development in Python:

  • 1999: Zope + Plone established Python as a viable option for web development, particularly in government sectors.
  • 2003: Introduction of WSGI, which became a standard for Python web frameworks.

• Key Frameworks:

  • 2005: Django emerged as a robust framework for content-driven applications, making many architectural decisions for the developer.
  • 2006: Pylons offered a more component-oriented approach, competing with Django.
  • 2007: WebOb and Pyramid provided alternatives, with Pyramid being a more reasonable choice compared to Django.

• Flask:

  • Initially created as an April Fool’s joke, Flask grew in popularity due to its simplicity and user-friendly API, which rarely required documentation.

The Future: Responder

• Responder's Vision:

  • 2019 and Beyond: Responder is positioned as a future-forward framework, considering modern web development needs like WebSockets, Server-Sent Events (SSE), and ASGI.

• Design Intentions:

  • Include Requests as the standard HTTP client.
  • Model Request/Response objects closely after Requests’ objects.
  • Aim to create "the world’s best web framework," taking the project seriously and gauging community interest.

Conclusion

• Responder seeks to build on the strengths of past frameworks while introducing new, user-friendly features. The goal is to provide a robust, modern tool for Python developers, with a focus on simplicity and practicality.