Leave HTML - You can code frontend with Python now

Summary

In this video, the creator explores Rio, a Python-based framework that promises to let developers build web apps without using HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. After setting up a Tic Tac Toe project, they dive into the framework's structure, highlighting how Rio replaces traditional web technologies with Python components. The user also tries to leverage AI (ChatGPT) for assistance but faces challenges, such as incorrect code suggestions and UI bugs. Ultimately, while Rio is an interesting project for Python developers, the user concludes that for serious web development, traditional HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are still the go-to technologies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rio is a Python framework that allows you to build web apps without needing HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
• 😀 The framework replaces traditional web elements with its own custom UI components to eliminate the need for CSS.
• 😀 Rio’s setup process is simple: the `rio new` command sets up a full project with minimal effort.
• 😀 Even though Rio abstracts away HTML and CSS, it still relies on Python to create UI components, making it suitable for Python enthusiasts.
• 😀 The framework offers some cool features, such as easy color theming and a built-in debugging tool, although its interface can be buggy.
• 😀 Rio’s lack of select components led to an incorrect suggestion from ChatGPT, highlighting AI's limitations in handling niche technologies.
• 😀 While Rio offers some conveniences, its documentation is sparse and some basic features like select menus are missing or poorly implemented.
• 😀 The user experienced issues with the layout and responsiveness of the website generated by Rio, indicating potential limitations in its design capabilities.
• 😀 The framework offers one-click deployment, but it’s not fully functional yet, suggesting that this feature might be in development.
• 😀 Despite its potential, the user suggests that for serious web development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript remain more robust and flexible compared to Rio.
• 😀 The user found the combination of Rio and AI tools like ChatGPT helpful for rapid prototyping, though it sometimes led to incorrect or confusing suggestions.

Q & A

What is Rio, and how does it differ from traditional web development frameworks?

Rio is a Python framework that allows developers to build web apps without using JavaScript, HTML, or CSS. Unlike traditional web development, Rio replaces HTML tags and CSS styles with Python-based UI components, providing a way to structure and style web apps purely with Python.

How does Rio handle the layout and styling of web apps without CSS?

Rio replaces native HTML elements with custom Python-based UI components. These components manage the layout and design, eliminating the need for CSS. Instead of applying CSS directly, developers can modify the appearance through the framework’s built-in options.

What does the `rio new` command do in Rio?

The `rio new` command is used to set up a new project in Rio. It creates a full project structure with just one command, allowing developers to get started quickly with building web apps, such as the Tic Tac Toe game demonstrated in the video.

What were some of the issues encountered during the Rio setup?

While setting up the Tic Tac Toe game, the user faced some unfamiliarity with the codebase. They also found certain elements, like layout bugs and difficulty with integrating custom functionality, especially when trying to add a difficulty selector for the game.

How does Rio handle theme customization?

Rio offers real-time customization of app themes, including changing colors on the fly and toggling between light and dark modes. However, some issues were noted, such as layout jumping when toggling between themes.

What is the speaker's opinion on using Rio for production apps?

The speaker suggests that while Rio can be fun for experimenting or learning as a Python developer, it might not be the best choice for production-level apps due to its limited component set and some unresolved bugs in the framework.

What problem did the speaker face when attempting to add a difficulty selector to the Tic Tac Toe game?

The speaker attempted to use a `select` element to create a difficulty selector but discovered that Rio does not support a `select` component. Instead, Rio uses a `dropdown` component, which led to confusion and frustration when initial attempts to integrate it failed.

Why was ChatGPT’s suggestion of using `rio.select` problematic?

ChatGPT mistakenly suggested using `rio.select`, a non-existent component in Rio, rather than the correct `rio.dropdown`. This error caused the speaker to spend extra time troubleshooting, highlighting limitations in AI tools when working with new or niche frameworks.

What features does Rio offer to help with app deployment?

Rio includes a one-click deployment feature, although it was still marked as 'coming soon' during the video. This feature, once fully functional, would simplify the process of deploying apps created with Rio.

How did the speaker feel about the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in learning new technologies?

The speaker acknowledged that AI tools like ChatGPT could be helpful for beginners, offering quick solutions and helping with understanding unfamiliar code. However, they also pointed out that AI can sometimes mislead or provide incorrect suggestions, leading to more time spent troubleshooting.