On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 8:03 AM, Tim Golden <m...@timgolden.me.uk> wrote: > On 25/10/2012 12:45, Gilles wrote: >> I'd like to check something about running Python web applications. >> >> Generally speaking, the reason scripts run faster when called >> through FastCGI or the mod_* modules, is because the interpreter is >> already up and running. But when running PHP scripts, this does >> nothing about fetching the file from disk, recompiling, rerunning it, >> and usually reconnecting to the database. >>
I'd say that is the same as py, unless it's a cron job to limit script iterations >> OTOH, Python web scripts can be written as long-running scripts: In >> this case, what is the added-value of using FastCGI? Why can't the >> web server simply call the Python script directly, just like CGI? The server should call a the script, or script.sleep() There are also server options to setup when a script is run, other than a cron jo for php. > > (Your question is a little confused at the end. I'm choosing to > understand: why can't we just run Python one-shot, like CGI? The likely > alternative meaning is: why can't the incoming request be routed to an > already-running Python program -- which is not, of course, what CGI > generally does. Hence my confusion). > > The answer is: it can. CGI is a protocol rather than anything else. In > front of a CGI exchange is the browser (or some other web client). > Behind it is some program which is capable of producing a valid HTTP > response, including a Python program. > > It's perfectly possible to run a usable website against Python running > one-shot. You won't get terrific performance out of it, but for a > website which doesn't expect humungous amounts of traffic, it'll work fine. > > The amount of time it takes a half-decent, even shared, server to start > up a Python process, connect to a database, pull stuff together, and > send a response will likely not impact on an average user's experience. > As long as too many of them don't try to do that at the same time. > Exactly where the line is drawn will depend on your particular hosting > solution, your assumed traffic, and your users' expectations as to > responsiveness. > > TJG > -- > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list -- Best Regards, David Hutto CEO: http://www.hitwebdevelopment.com -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
