As we enter 2024, there is thrilling news for Python developers and web developers. The Flask Mega-Tutorial is receiving a notable update. In this article, let’s get into the details of this awaited release and what it means for people.

What is Flask 3.0

September 30, 2023, is when Flask 3.0 was released and marked a milestone for the Python Web Framework. Accompanied by a parallel 3.0 release of its main dependency, Werkzeug, this update introduces notable changes. Regardless, it is essential to be aware that, as of October 19, 2023, Flask-Login, which is a widely used extension, faced compatibility issues due to a Werkzeug change. A subsequent fixed release of Flask-Login on October 30th resolves this concern.

What is Flask Mega-Tutorial

The Flask Mega-Tutorial, created in 2012, is the brainchild of an enthusiast guiding the world of web development using Flask. Through this, and out of the need for a flexible and unopinionated framework, Flask was created as the ideal choice. The tutorial was first created as a blog engine, that turned into a comprehensive guide for Python beginners entering the web development.

Core Commitments:

Free Accessibility: The tutorial remains freely available on the author’s blog.

Continuous Updates: The latest 2024 edition aligns with Flask 3.0 and SQLAlchemy 2.0 releases.

Support Options: For those wanting to contribute, book versions are available for purchase, supporting the author’s ongoing work.

Flask Mega All Revisions

The tutorial has been through a few revisions:

2012: The original blog series was published.

2018: Major revision supported by a Kickstarter project, released in book and video formats.

2021: Minor revision coinciding with Flask 2.0 release.

2024: A new and larger revision of the written content to cover the releases of Flask 3.0 and SQLAlchemy 2.0

What Are The Changes In The 2024 Edition

There are a few changes and improvements that have been made in the 2024 edition:

Flask 3.0

There has been an update for the entire project. The project is fully compatible with the 2.3x releases, which are still used by a lot of people. All the extensions and dependencies have been upgraded to their latest available versions.

SQLAlchemy 2.0

SQLAlchemy 2 was the largest change of all, as SQLAlchemy had introduced a few improvements in their latest 2. x release. With Flask Mega-Tutorial you will learn to define database models using syntax based on type hints that play nice with code analyzers and IDEs. You will also be able to use the new more powerful query interfaces.

Bootstrap 3.0

The use of Bootstrap 3 was nothing much, due to the lack of good support for newer releases of Bootstrap in the Flask ecosystem.

No More jQuery

jQuery has been a must-have library for any web page. Doing anything without jQuery was painful, as there were quirks and behaviors of each browser that were to be considered individually.

However, the consistency in browser APIs has improved recently, making jQuery unnecessary. And so all uses of jQuery have been eliminated in this tutorial, and have been replaced with native browser APIs.

Things That Didn’t Change In This Update

1. Chapter Layout: The structure of the tutorial remains the same, with 23 chapters mirroring the 2018 and 2021 revisions.
2. Heroku Chapter: Despite changes in Heroku’s policy and the requirement of a paid account, the tutorial has the Heroku chapter. This is to aim and accommodate those who still find value in this platform, keeping it significant.
3. Video Course Status: The 2024 edition does not introduce new video course versions. The decision arises from the updates across all chapters, especially those related to SQLAlchemy 2.0. While the written tutorial remains free, video courses from the 2018/2021 edition continue to be available for those who prefer visual learning.

Conclusion

As the Flask Mega-Tutorial continues to help learners, the commitment to providing free access is praiseworthy. For those seeking additional support, book versions of the tutorial are available for purchase. In conclusion, this 2024 edition shows the dedication of the creator. Enjoy the new chapter of learning!