Starlette is a lightweight ASGI (Asynchronous Server Gateway Interface) web framework for building high-performance web applications in Python. It is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and scalability, making it a popular choice among developers who require efficient asynchronous web servers. Starlette provides the necessary tools and utilities to handle routing, middleware, and authentication, allowing developers to focus on writing clean, concise code without the overhead of a full-fledged framework.
In the realm of Microframeworks (Backend), Starlette stands out as a versatile solution that bridges the gap between full-stack frameworks and bare-metal ASGI applications. It caters to developers looking for a middle ground between simplicity and robustness, making it ideal for projects that demand high performance and scalability without compromising on development speed and ease of use.
Founded in 2017 by Tom Christie, the creator of the popular Django REST framework, Starlette emerged as a response to the growing need for a modern, lightweight web framework that could leverage the capabilities of ASGI. Inspired by the success of other microframeworks in the Python ecosystem, Christie aimed to provide a framework that could harness the power of asynchronous programming while maintaining a minimalistic and developer-friendly interface.
Currently, Starlette enjoys a significant market share within the Microframeworks category due to its unique positioning as a versatile and performant web framework. With the increasing adoption of asynchronous programming paradigms and the rise of high-concurrency web applications, Starlette is poised for continued growth in the foreseeable future. Its lightweight design, extensive documentation, and active community support contribute to its sustainability and relevance in the competitive landscape of web development frameworks.
