Web2py - Introduction

web2py is defined as a free, open-source web framework for agile development which involves database-driven web applications; it is written in Python and programmable in Python. It is a full-stack framework; it consists of all the necessary components, a developer needs to build a fully functional web application.
web2py framework follows the Model-View-Controller pattern of running web applications unlike traditional patterns.

Web2py - Python Language

Python can be defined as a combination of object-oriented and interactive language. It is an open source software. Guido van Rossum conceived python in the late 1980s.
Python is a language similar to PERL (Practical Extraction and Reporting Language), which has gained popularity because of its clear syntax and readability.
The main notable features of Python are as follows −

Web2py - Framework Overview

web2py is a full-stack web framework that can be used by a developer to completely develop a web application. It includes SQL database integration and multi-threaded web server for designing a program.

Web2py - Core

Command Line Options

We have learnt how to start the web2py server using GUI widget in the previous chapter.
This widget can be skipped by starting the server from command line prompt.
python web2py.py -a 'your password' -i 127.0.0.1 -p 8000

Web2py - Views

web2py framework uses Models, Controllers and Views in its applications. It includes a slightly modified Python syntax in the Views for more readable code without any restriction as imposed on proper Python usage.

Web2py - Database Abstraction Layer

The Database Abstraction Layer (DAL) is considered as the major strength of web2py. The DAL exposes a simple Applications Programming Interface (API) to the underlying SQL syntax.
In this chapter, we will get to know the non-trivial applications of DAL, such as building queries to search by tags efficiently and building a hierarchical category tree.
Some important features of DAL are −

Web2py - Forms & Validators

web2py comes with powerful functions for form generation. Four distinct ways to build forms in web2py are as follows −

• FORM − In terms of HTML helpers, it is considered as a low-level implementation. A FORM object is aware of its field contents.
  

Web2py - Email & SMS

web2py includes functionalities of sending e-mail and SMS to the user. It uses libraries to send emails and sms.

Setting Up Email

The in-built class namely gluon.tools.Mail class is used to send email in web2py framework. The mailer can be defined with this class.

from gluon.tools import Mail
mail = Mail()

Web2py - Access Control

Authentication

Almost every application needs to be able to authenticate users and set permissions. web2py comes with an extensive and customizable role-based access control mechanism.web2py. It also supports the protocols, such as CAS, OpenID, OAuth 1.0, LDAP, PAM, X509, and many more.

Web2py - Services

web2py provides support for various protocols like XML, JSON, RSS, CSV, XMLRPC, JSONRPC, AMFRPC, and SOAP. Each of those protocols is supported in multiple ways, and we make a distinction between −

• Rendering the output of a function in a given format.
• Remote Procedure Calls.

Web2py - Adding Ajax Effects

In this chapter, we will discuss examples of integration of jQuery plugins with web2py. These plugins help in making forms and tables more interactive and friendly to the user, thus improving the usability of your application.
In particular, we will learn

Web2py - Components

A component is defined as the functional part of a web page, which works autonomously. It can be composed of modules, controllers and views, which are embedded in a web page. The component in an application, must be localized tag and the performance is considered to be independent of module.
In web2py, the main focus is on using components that are loaded in page and which communicate with the component controller via AJAX.

Web2py - Deployment

Installation of web2py in Ubuntu (Linux)

The following steps are implemented for installation of web2py in the Ubuntu Desktop.
Step 1 − Download web2py

cd /home
mkdir www-dev

Web2py - Security

In the previous chapters, there was complete information on the implementation of web2py with various tools. The major concern for developing web2py applications includes security from a user’s perspective.
The unique features of web2py are as follows −

Web2py - Quick Guide

Web2py - Introduction

web2py is defined as a free, open-source web framework for agile development which involves database-driven web applications; it is written in Python and programmable in Python. It is a full-stack framework; it consists of all the necessary components, a developer needs to build a fully functional web application.
web2py framework follows the Model-View-Controller pattern of running web applications unlike traditional patterns.

Web2py - Useful Resources

The following resources contain additional information on Web2py. Please use them to get more in-depth knowledge on this.

Discuss Web2py

web2py is defined as a free, open-source web framework for agile development which involves database-driven web applications. It is written and programmable in Python. It is a full-stack framework and consists of all the necessary components a developer needs to build fully functional web applications.