Feel like ExpressJs while using Python Flask

Introduction

Do you love to write back-end code using ExpressJs? Do you like the auto completion features of Vscode while using typing based language or framework? Do you want to get all of above mentioned features while using a Python based framework called Flask ?



I have created a new python module called Flaske, to provide these features.

How flaske provide you the features like expressjs

Flaske basically provides you the request and response object as the parameters of the view function very similar to the view functions of expressJs. The inbuilt properties and the methods of the request and response object will provide you a interactive feel like expressJs. We are using the munch module to provide the attribute-style access very similar to the Javascript. Below I have tried to mention some of the examples to demonstrate the features of Flaske better.

Installation

Install from official PYPI

python3 -m pip install flaske

Or It could be installed from the source code.

git clone https://github.com/marktennyson/flaske.git && cd flaske/
python3 setup.py install

Important Links

PYPI link

Github link

Documentation link

Examples

A Basic example:

from flaske import Flask

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.get("/")
def index(req, res):
    return res.json(req.header)

Now the flask 2.0 support the asynchronus view function. You can implement this with flaske too.

from flaske import Flask

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.get("/")
async def index(req, res):
    return res.json(req.header)

You can use the python typing for a better view of the codes and auto completion.

from flaske import Flask
from flaske.typing import Request, Response

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.get("/")
def index(req:Request, res:Response):
    return res.json(req.header)

Basic Documentation

The official and full documentation for this project is available at: https://flaske.vercel.app.
Here I have tried to provide some of the basic features of this project.

Request class:

N.B: all of the properties of the Request class will return an instance of Munch.
This will provide you the feel of the Javascript object.

property - json

So if your app is receiving data as json format, you can use json property of the request class to access the data.
It's internally using the get_json method to provide the data.

For example:

@app.post("/send-json")
def send_json(req, res):
    name = req.json.name
    email = req.json.email
    return res.json(name=name, email=email)

property - query

This object provides you the url based parameter.
It's internally using the args property to provide the data.

For example:

@app.get("/get-query")
def get_query(req, res):
    name=req.query.name
    email = req.query.email
    return res.send(dict(name=name, email=email))

property - body

This object provides you the all the parameters from the Form.
It's internally using the form property to provide the data.

For example:

@app.get("/get-form-data")
def get_form_data(req, res):
    name=req.body.name
    email = req.body.email
    return res.send(dict(name=name, email=email))

property - header

This object provides you the all the parameters of the request header.
It's internally using the header property to provide the data.

For example:

@app.get("/get-form-data")
def get_form_data(req, res):
    return res.send(req.header)

Response class

The default response class and the methods or functions of the response class are the following.

function - set_status

This is used to set the response header status.

for example:

@app.route("/set-status")
def set_statuser(req, res):
    return res.set_status(404).send("your requested page is not found.")

function - flash

To flash a message at the UI.

for example:

@app.route('/flash')
def flasher(req, res):
    return res.flash("this is the flash message").end()

function - send

It sends the HTTP response.

for example:

@app.route("/send")
def sender(req, res):
    return res.send("hello world")
    #or
    return res.send("<h1>hello world</h1>")
    #or
    return res.set_status(404).send("not found")

function - json

To return the json seriliazed response.

for example:

@app.route("/json")
def jsoner(req, res):
    return res.json(name="aniket sarkar")
    #or
    return res.json({'name': 'aniket sarkar'})
    #or
    return res.json([1,2,3,4])

function - end

To end the current resonse process.

for example:

@app.route("/end")
def ender(req, res):
    return res.end()
    #or
    return res.end(404) # to raise a 404 error.

function - render

Renders a html and sends the rendered HTML string to the client.

for example:

@app.route('/render')
def renderer(req, res):
    context=dict(name="Aniket Sarkar", planet="Pluto")
    return res.render("index.html", context)
    #or
    return res.render("index.html", name="Aniket Sarkar", planet="Pluto")

function - redirect

redirect to specified route.

for example:

@app.post("/login")
def login(req, res):
#if login success
return res.redirect("/dashboard")

function - get

Get the header information by the given key.

for example:

@app.route("/get")
def getter(req, res):
    print (res.get("Content-Type"))
    return res.end()

function - set

Set the header information.

for example:

@app.route("/header-seter")
def header_setter(req, res):
    res.set('Content-Type', 'application/json')
    #or
    res.set({'Content-Type':'application/json'})
    return res.end()

function - type

Sets the Content-Type HTTP header to the MIME type as determined by the specified type.

for example:

@app.route("/set-mime")
def mimer(req, res):
    res.type('application/json')
    #or
    res.type(".html")
    #or
    res.type("json")

function - attachment

send the attachments by using this method.
The default attachment folder name is attachments.
You can always change it by changing the config parameter.
the config parameter is ATTACHMENTS_FOLDER.

for example:

@app.route('/attachments')
def attach(req, res):
    filename = req.query.filename
    return res.attachment(file_name)

function - send_file

Send the contents of a file to the client.Its internally using the send_file method from werkzeug.

function - clear_cookie

Clear a cookie. Fails silently if key doesn't exist.

function - set_cookie

Sets a cookie.

function - make_response

make a http response. It's same as Flask.wrappers.Request

Development

Contribution procedure.

1. Form and clone this repository.
2. Make some changes as required.
3. Write unit test to showcase its functionality.
4. Submit a pull request under development branch.

Run this project on your local machine.

1. create a virtual environment on the project root directory.
2. install all the required dependencies from requirements.txt file.
3. make any changes on you local code.
4. then install the module on your virtual environment using python setup.py install command.
5. The above command will install the flaske module on your virtual environment.
6. Now create a separate project inside the example folder and start testing for your code changes.
7. If you face any difficulties to perform the above steps, then plese contact me at: aniketsarkar@yahoo.com.