flask_development_env.md

Create a Basic Flask Development Environment

This tutorial walks you through setting up the tools you need to begin developing in Python and Flask. Note: I assume you are on a Unix environment (OSX, Linux, Linux VM on Windows).

What you need

• Python 2.7.x
• easy_install and pip
• Git 1.7/1.8
• virtualenv
• Flask
• Text editor (Sublime, vim, Komodo, gedit)

Python

1. Check your Python version - python -V
2. If you already have a 2.7.x version, move on to the next step.
3. If not, download and install the latest 2.7.x version

Git

1. Check your Git version - git --version
2. Download the latest version, if necessary

easy_install and pip

1. Download setuptools for Python 2.7

    $ curl -o setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg https://pypi.python.org/packages/2.7/s/setuptools/setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg#md5=fe1f997bc722265116870bc7919059ea
   

2. Install setup tools

    $ sudo sh setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg
   

3. Clean up and delete egg

    $ rm setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg
   

4. Install pip

    $ sudo easy_install pip
   

virtualenv

virtualenv is used to create a self-contained development environment.

1. Install

    $ sudo pip install virtualenv
   

2. Setup your local environment

    $ mkdir new_project
    $ cd new_project
    $ virtualenv --no-site-packages flask
   

3. Activate virtualenv

    $ cd flask
    $ source bin/activate
   

Flask

1. Install

    pip install Flask
   

Version Control

1. Add a Git repository

    $ git init
   

Text editor

1. Download a text editor. I prefer Sublime.

Quick Application

1. Create a new file named hello.py and add the following code:

    from flask import Flask
    app = Flask(__name__)
   
    @app.route('/')
    def hello_world():
        return 'Hello World!'
   
    if __name__ == '__main__':
        app.run()
   

   Save the file to your "flask" directory.

2. Run the file with your Python interpreter

    $ python hello.py
   

3. Point your browser at http://localhost:5000 to view the hello world greeting.

Congrats! Flask has taken the main stage. Cheers.

Cheers!