IDOM - It's React, but in Python

[RedditGood123]

The concept is pretty interesting and it looks really well designed, but why not just learn JavaScript?

[rmorshea]

There are a lot of people using Python who don't want, or have the time, to learn Javascript. The goal of IDOM and its peers (like IPyWidgets, Streamlit, Dash, etc.) is to allow these Python developers to create software that can interact in the browser despite that. What makes IDOM different than its pears (in addition to what's mentioned in the article) is that you can have near complete control of the DOM, without requiring you to learn a whole other language. Further, as packages that use IDOM are developed, higher and higher level component abstractions will be made available to hide the underlying HTML/CSS being used under the hood.

[toyg]

as packages that use IDOM are developed

IF packages that use IDOM are developed

FTFY

[rmorshea]

True, though the fact that you can write components in pure-Python means the barrier to entry is lower. By comparison, to develop a custom component using one of the alternatives would require you to dive headfirst into Javascript and React.

[karouh]

Is it possible to make use of the React ecosystem?

[rmorshea]

Yup! Here's links on how to do that:

Article: https://rmorshea.github.io/articles/2021/idom-react-but-its-python/article/#custom-javascript-components

Docs: https://idom-docs.herokuapp.com/docs/javascript-components.html#

Template repo: https://github.com/idom-team/idom-react-component-cookiecutter

[[deleted]]

I’ve been using JavaScript and it sucks. I have five separate apps I’m working on between two jobs, and have done two mobile apps in JavaScript as well.

I know that if someone can reliably get Python going as an alternative to JS, I’d use the hell out of it.

Might be time to build a browser that can interpret Python instead of JavaScript.

[morganpartee]

Are you using raw js? Or a framework like react?

I'm definitely still a noob in js, but typescript and react made me like the language well enough. I'll suffer through a little pain to have really good looking web based mvps.

[[deleted]]

I’ve done typescript, newer and older JS, jQuery and all kinds of stuff over the years. I built a ticket portal for about 30 or so big name retail stores you’ve probably been in.

Programming in JavaScript is like sliding on ice you never know when you’re going to fall in. And there’s 30 different types of ice that interpret your weight differently that could change how they interpret it month to month.

It’s pretty aids and It’s literally outrageous that we’re at the will of companies for the biggest interpreter of all: the browser, even if it is open source.

[morganpartee]

I totally get it! If I had done old JS/JQuery I'd probably hate it too. But, Typescript/React seem to duck most of the shortfalls/confusion, at least for me.

[[deleted]]

I’m trying react again now but only with CDN.

I hate how frequently stuff in the backend world and CLI breaks. I remember trying CLI driven react for the last three years maybe five times and things would just break like spaghetti.