Here’s a basic example of how to create a monolithic web application using Python’s Flask framework. Flask is a lightweight web framework that is often used to build monolithic applications. This simple example will include a basic structure with routes, templates, and a single database to demonstrate how a monolithic application is organized.
Step 1: Install Flask
First, you’ll need to install Flask. You can do this using pip:
pip install FlaskStep 2: Set Up the Project Structure
Create a directory structure for your Flask application:
monolith_app/
│
├── app/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── routes.py
│ ├── models.py
│ ├── templates/
│ │ ├── layout.html
│ │ └── index.html
│ └── static/
│ └── style.css
│
├── config.py
├── run.py
└── requirements.txtStep 3: Configure the Flask App
In the app/__init__.py file, initialize your Flask app:
from flask import Flask
from app.routes import main
def create_app():
app = Flask(__name__)
# Configuration settings can go here
app.config.from_object('config.Config')
app.register_blueprint(main)
return appStep 4: Define Routes
In app/routes.py, define the routes for your application:
from flask import Blueprint, render_template
main = Blueprint('main', __name__)
@main.route('/')
def index():
return render_template('index.html')
@main.route('/about')
def about():
return render_template('about.html')Step 5: Create Templates
In the app/templates/ directory, create the HTML templates.
layout.html (Base Layout):
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Monolithic Web App</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="{{ url_for('static', filename='style.css') }}">
</head>
<body>
<nav>
<a href="{{ url_for('main.index') }}">Home</a>
<a href="{{ url_for('main.about') }}">About</a>
</nav>
<div class="content">
{% block content %}{% endblock %}
</div>
</body>
</html>index.html (Home Page):
{% extends 'layout.html' %}
{% block content %}
<h1>Welcome to the Monolithic Web App</h1>
<p>This is the home page.</p>
{% endblock %}about.html (About Page):
{% extends 'layout.html' %}
{% block content %}
<h1>About This App</h1>
<p>This page gives more information about the app.</p>
{% endblock %}Step 6: Add Static Files
In the app/static/ directory, you can add CSS or JavaScript files.
style.css:
body {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
}
nav {
background-color: #007bff;
padding: 10px;
}
nav a {
color: white;
margin: 10px;
text-decoration: none;
}Step 7: Configuration
In config.py, define configuration settings:
class Config:
SECRET_KEY = 'your_secret_key'Step 8: Running the Application
Create run.py to run your application:
from app import create_app
app = create_app()
if __name__ == '__main__':
app.run(debug=True)Step 9: Install Dependencies
In your requirements.txt, list the required Python packages:
Flask==2.0.1Install the dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txtStep 10: Run the Application
Finally, run your Flask app:
python run.pyConclusion
This basic monolithic Flask application is organized in a way that scales as your project grows. All the components—routes, templates, static files, and configuration—are integrated into a single, cohesive unit, making it a straightforward and effective approach for small to medium-sized applications.
As your application scales, you may encounter the limitations of a monolithic architecture, such as difficulties in scaling individual components or challenges with maintaining a large codebase. However, for many projects, especially those that need to be developed quickly or don’t require high levels of scalability, a monolithic architecture like this one can be the perfect choice.
