Why I can't use a new tech-stack

As a seasoned full-stack developer, I’ve seen frameworks and languages rise and fall. Next.js promises seamless React integration, Go boasts blazing-fast performance, and FastAPI touts modern async capabilities. Yet, after experimenting with these tools, I keep returning to Django—not out of stubbornness, but because it consistently lets me ship solutions faster, cleaner, and with fewer headaches. Here’s why.

Productivity Isn’t Just Hype—It’s Django’s Superpower

Django’s “batteries-included” philosophy isn’t a marketing gimmick. Need authentication? django.contrib.auth has you covered. Database modeling? The ORM abstracts away SQL without sacrificing power. Admin interface? Built-in. Routing, middleware, templating, security headers—it’s all there.

Compare this to stitching together Express.js with TypeORM, Passport, and Swagger, or configuring Next.js server-side rendering while juggling API routes. With Django, I’m solving the actual problem by 9:30 AM instead of debugging tooling until lunch.

Even frontend-heavy apps benefit. Pair Django with HTMX and AlpineJS (what I used to build Million Timer), and you get reactive UIs without drowning in npm dependencies. Need a REST API? Django REST Framework (DRF) delivers in minutes. For real-time features? Django Channels integrates WebSockets seamlessly.

Stability Is a Feature, Not a Bug

Django has been battle-tested for nearly two decades. Its release cycle is predictable, security patches are prompt, and backwards compatibility is a priority. Contrast this with newer frameworks where major updates often break ecosystems overnight.

Yes, Go’s performance is impressive, but how much time will I spend reinventing Django’s admin for a simple internal tool? FastAPI’s async support is sleek, but most web apps don’t need microsecond response times—they need maintainable code.

The Ecosystem Is Unmatched

Django’s package ecosystem solves problems you didn’t know you had:

• Django REST Framework: Build APIs faster than FastAPI (with browsable docs included).
• django-allauth: Social logins, email verification, and 2FA out of the box.
• easy-thumbnails: Generate thumbnails like an adult instead of relying on a cloud provider.
• Django Cotton: Modern UI composition like in React without the bloat.

Even niche needs (like GIS with PostGIS) are covered. Try finding that in Rails without relying on fragmented gems.

I’ve Tried the “New Shiny”—Here’s What Happened

I built a side project with Next.js. Vercel’s deployment was smooth, but I spent hours wiring up Redux, configuring SSR hydration issues, and debugging API route cold starts. With Django, I’d have shipped it in a weekend.

I wrote a microservice in Go. The performance gains were real, but I missed Django’s ORM and spent hours writing boilerplate for JSON validation and database migrations. For 95% of projects, Python’s “slow” runtime is irrelevant—developer velocity matters more.

The FOMO Trap

The tech industry glorifies novelty. “You’re still using Django? What about [insert trend]?” But chasing trends often means:

• Wasting time on tooling instead of product.
• Introducing unnecessary complexity (Do you really need a microservices architecture?).
• Sacrificing long-term maintainability for short-term hype.

Django isn’t stagnant—it evolves thoughtfully. Async support, template components, and improved ORM queries keep it modern without reinventing the wheel.

When Would I Use Something Else?

• Specialized needs: High-frequency trading (maybe Go). CPU-heavy tasks (Python’s still fine with Celery or async).
• Team expertise: If your team lives in React, Next.js makes sense. But even then, pair it with Django for the backend.

Conclusion: Boring Wins the Race

Django isn’t “legacy”—it’s stable, mature, and quietly revolutionary. While others chase hype cycles, I’ll keep shipping features, fixing real business problems, and sleeping soundly knowing my stack won’t explode on a Friday night.

The next time someone asks why you’re not jumping to the latest framework, ask them: “Does it actually solve a problem Django can’t?” If not, keep calm and django-admin startproject my_million_dollar_app.

— A happily unapologetic Django developer