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I personally like web.py:

PROS: * Light and fast, * Really flexible, * Really easy to learn, * Easy to install, * Nice error reports (mostly copied from Django), * No database ORM

CONS: * No database ORM, just some helper functions: insert(...), update(...), select(...), etc. You must also build the DB tables by yourself. * Limited documentation.



I stopped using web.py after I had to correct Aaron when he recommended a 'session' implementation that had a massive gaping security hole.

http://groups.google.com/group/webpy/browse_thread/thread/2f...

If he couldn't spot that when he posted, I don't trust him to spot any other problems with web.py


For a second I didn't get what the big deal was here. Sure you have to keep your pickled python objects in a secure place on your server. Sure you could have problems if someone could get at those, but they would need to crack your server first and then figure out how your app worked. If they could do that you're hosed anyway...

Then it hit me.

He was suggesting you give the pickled object back to the client in the session cookie and load whatever the client sends later right back into the interpreter. Whee!


> He was suggesting you give the pickled object back to the client in the session cookie and load whatever the client sends later right back into the interpreter. Whee!

I've done that with signed cookies.


I imagine you didn't store any per-session state on the server as well, so I'm curious about what you used to validate the cookie.


I secretly salted the cookie.

Think HMAC, though I used two completely different keys, rather than generating them from one key, added an optional step of appending the client's IP address after the first hashing (with the first key) and before the second one.

(The second hashing in HMAC is designed to prevent collision attacks (even on weak algorithms like MD5), since you'd essentially have to find a fraudulent input that collides twice: once when hashed, and once more when its hash is hashed).

My implementation also allowed the data to span an arbitrary number of ~4kb cookies). Firefox maxed out at around 0.5MB, though if you're using that much session data, you may want to rethink your app design... ;)


There wasn't any encryption involved in his suggestion. :D


He is doing a good job so far. Anyway, I believe he isn't the only developer of web.py anymore.


Seconded. It's not really a framework as much as a url mapper. Plus, it's quite small so if you're having trouble understanding something, the source is available.


Limited Documentation = really almost non-existent, except few samples, and few lines here and there in their website.

I am not sure it is by laziness, or it is purposely done to scare n00bs away from it.

It's a pitty when somebody takes the time to built a decent and useful framework, but just hinders its adoption, by not going the extra mile and providing good documentation.


I am quite against database ORM, so that's no con for me. Documentation isn't great either but things are generally very easy to figure out.

My only cons (last I checked):

- Connecting to multiple databases is kind of a hack.

- Depreciation of cheetah over aaron's templating system.

So, it's just about perfect for me.


hi how can i reach u?


I can help. See profile.




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