book

Flask By Example

Name: Flask By Example
Author: Gareth Dwyer
ISBN: 9781785286933

by Gareth Dwyer

March 2016

Intermediate to advanced

276 pages

6h 48m

English

Packt Publishing

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Flask By Example
Table of Contents
Flask By Example
Credits
About the Author
Acknowledgements
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
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Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book

Who this book is for
Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Downloading the example codeDownloading the color images of this bookErrataPiracyQuestions
1. Hello, World!
Introducing Flask
Creating our development environment
Installing pipInstalling Flask
Writing "Hello, World!"
Writing the codeRunning the code
Deploying our application to production
Setting up a Virtual Private ServerConfiguring our serverInstalling and using GitServing our Flask app with WSGIConfiguring Apache to serve our Flask application
Summary
2. Getting Started with Our Headlines Project
Setting up our project and a Git repository
Creating a new Flask application
Introduction to RSS and RSS feeds
Using RSS from PythonURL routing in FlaskPublishing our Headlines application
Summary
3. Using Templates in Our Headlines Project
Introducing Jinja
Basic use of Jinja templates
Rendering a basic templatePassing dynamic data to our templateDisplaying dynamic data in our template
Advanced use of Jinja templates
Using Jinja objectsAdding looping logic to our templateAdding hyperlinks to our templatePushing our code to the server
Summary
4. User Input for Our Headlines Project
Getting user input using HTTP GET
Getting user input using HTTP POST
Creating a branch in GitAdding POST routes in FlaskMaking our HTML form use POSTReverting our Git repository
Adding weather and currency data
Introducing the OpenWeatherMap APISigning up with OpenWeatherMapRetrieving your OpenWeatherMap API keyParsing JSON with PythonIntroducing JSONRetrieving and parsing JSON in PythonUsing our weather codeDisplaying the weather dataAllowing the user to customize the cityAdding another search box to our templateUsing the user's city search in our Python codeChecking our new functionalityHandling duplicate city namesCurrencyGetting an API key for the Open Exchange Rates APIUsing the Open Exchange Rates APIUsing our currency functionDisplaying the currency data in our templateAdding inputs for the user to select currencyCreating an HTML select drop-down elementAdding all the currencies to the select inputDisplaying the selected currency in the drop-down input
Summary
5. Improving the User Experience of Our Headlines Project
Adding cookies to our Headlines applicationUsing cookies with FlaskSetting cookies in FlaskRetrieving cookies in FlaskWriting the fallback logic to check for cookiesRetrieving the cookies for other data
Adding CSS to our Headlines application
External, internal, and inline CSSAdding our first CSSAdding padding to our CSSAdding more styles to our CSSAdding the div tags to the template fileStyling our inputs
Summary
6. Building an Interactive Crime Map
Setting up a new Git repository
Understanding relational databases
Installing and configuring MySQL on our VPS
Installing MySQL on our VPSInstalling Python drivers for MySQL
Creating our Crime Map database in MySQL
Creating a database setup scriptCreating the databaseLooking at our table columnsIndexing and committingUsing the database setup scriptAdding credentials to our setup scriptRunning our database setup script
Creating a basic database web application
Setting up our directory structureLooking at our application codeLooking at our SQL codeReading dataInserting dataDeleting dataCreating our view codeRunning the code on our VPSMitigating against SQL injectionInjecting SQL into our database applicationMitigating against SQL injection
Summary
7. Adding Google Maps to Our Crime Map Project
Running a database application locallyCreating a mock of our databaseAdding a test flagWriting the mock codeValidating our expectations
Adding an embedded Google Maps widget to our application
Adding the map to our templateIntroducing JavaScriptThe body of our HTML codeTesting and debuggingMaking our map interactiveAdding markersUsing a single marker
Adding an input form for new crimes
The HTML code for the formAdding external CSS to our web applicationCreating the CSS file in our directory structureAdding CSS codeConfiguring Flask to use CSSViewing the resultPublishing the resultLinking the form to the backendSetting up the URL to collect POST dataAdding the database methodsTesting the code on the server
Displaying existing crimes on our map
Getting data from SQLPassing the data to our templateUsing the data in our templateViewing the results
Summary
8. Validating User Input in Our Crime Map Project
Choosing where to validateIdentifying inputs that require validation
Trying out an XSS example
The potential of persistent XSS
Validating and sanitizing
White and blacklistingValidating versus sanitizingImplementing validationValidating the categoryValidating the locationValidating the dateValidating the description
Summary
9. Building a Waiter Caller App
Setting up a new Git repositorySetting up the new project locallySetting up the project on our VPS
Using Bootstrap to kick-start our application
Introducing BootstrapDownloading BootstrapBootstrap templates
Adding user account control to our application
Introducing Flask-LoginInstalling and importing Flask-LoginUsing Flask extensionsAdding a restricted routeAuthenticating a userCreating a user classMocking our database for usersLogging in a userAdding imports and configurationAdding the login functionalityWriting the login functionCreating the load_user functionChecking the login functionalityLogging out a userRegistering a userManaging passwords with cryptographic hashesPython hashlibReversing hashesSalting passwordsImplementing secure password storage in PythonCreating the PasswordHelper classUpdating our database codeUpdating our application code
Summary
10. Template Inheritance and WTForms in Waiter Caller Project
Adding the Account and Dashboard pagesIntroducing Jinja templatesCreating the base templateCreating the dashboard templateCreating the account templateCreating the home templateAdding the routing codeCreating restaurant tablesWriting the restaurant table codeAdding the create table formAdding the create table routeAdding the create table database codeAdding the view table database codeModifying the account route to pass table dataModifying the template to show the tablesAdding the delete table route to our backend codeTesting the restaurant table code
Shortening URLs using the bitly API
Introducing BitlyUsing the bitly APIGetting a bitly oauth tokenCreating the bitlyhelper fileUsing the bitly module
Adding functionality to handle attention requests
Writing the attention request codeAdding the attention request routeAdding the attention request database codeAdd the get and delete methods for attention requestsModifying the dashboard route to use attention requestsModifying the template code to display attention requestsAdding the resolve request application codeTesting the attention request codeAuto-refreshing the dashboard page
Adding user feedback with WTForms
Introducing WTFormsInstalling Flask-WTFCreating the registration formRendering the registration formUpdating the application codeUpdating the template codeTesting the new formUsing WTForms in our application codeDisplaying errors to our userDisplaying the errors in our templateAdding CSS for the errorsTesting the final registration formAdding a successful registration notificationPassing the message from the application codeUsing the message in the template codeModifying the login formCreating the new LoginForm in the application codeUsing the new LoginForm in the templateModifying the create table form
Summary
11. Using MongoDB with Our Waiter Caller Project
Introducing MongoDB
Installing MongoDB
Using the MongoDB shell
Starting the MongoDB shellRunning commands in the MongoDB shellCreating data with MongoDBReading data with MongoDBUpdating data with MongoDBDeleting data with MongoDB
Introducing PyMongo
Writing the DBHelper classAdding the user methodsAdding the table methodsAdding the request methodsChanging the application code
Testing our application in production
Adding some finishing touches
Adding indices to MongoDBWhere do we add indices?Adding a favicon
Summary
A. A Sneak Peek into the Future
Expanding the projectsAdding a domain nameAdding HTTPSE-mail confirmation for new registrationsGoogle AnalyticsScalability
Expanding your Flask knowledge
VirtualEnvFlask BlueprintsFlask extensionsFlask-SQLAlchemyFlask MongoDB extensionsFlask-MongoAlchemyFlask-PyMongoFlask-MongoEngineFlask-MailFlask-SecurityOther Flask extensions
Expanding your web development knowledge
Summary
Index

Overview

"Flask By Example" is your hands-on introduction to the Flask web framework for creating modern and effective web applications. With engaging projects, from building news aggregators to interactive maps and advanced user management systems, this book ensures you get practical experience. By the end, you'll be mastering Flask's capabilities and confidently developing web solutions.

What this Book will help me do

Understand Flask, a powerful Python microframework, and its uses for control and flexibility in web app development.
Develop three real-world applications, each progressively introducing advanced functionality and architecture.
Learn to integrate SQL and NoSQL databases with web applications, showcasing Flask's flexibility in database connectivity.
Master security features to protect your applications from vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Expand your skills in designing user interfaces and integrating APIs to enhance functionality in web apps.

Author(s)

Gareth Dwyer is a seasoned software developer and tech instructor with a passion for Python-based tools and making complex topics accessible. He writes from practical experience, ensuring concepts are taught cleanly and clearly, focusing on real-world applicability. His passion for teaching is reflected in his direct and approachable tone.

Who is it for?

This book is perfect for beginner to intermediate Python programmers who are eager to delve into web development. If you've been exploring backend technologies but find them daunting, or if you want to bridge the gap between scripting and building full web systems, this book is an ideal starting point. It assumes basic familiarity with Python and introduces web development principles seamlessly.

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