I am using python anywhere to host a flask app that has 2 components: 1) a website to show some stuff from a txt file and 2) a python script to do some API stuff and change the data in the txt file.
Currently, I can run both of these separately without issue but I cannot use them together. I have tried to use threading but it doesn't work.
Basically, the background script (part 2) is in backend.py called by mainloop() consists of some API calls to other websites, modifying the txt file then sleeping for an hour.
wsgi.py
import sys path = '/home/michalis95/API-updater' if path not in sys.path: sys.path.append(path) from threading import Thread import website application = website.create_app()/website/__init.py__
from flask import Flask from flask_sqlalchemy import SQLAlchemy from os import path from threading import Thread from flask_login import LoginManager db = SQLAlchemy() DB_NAME = "database.db" def create_app(): app = Flask(__name__) app.config['SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI'] = f'sqlite:///{DB_NAME}' db.init_app(app) from .views import views from .auth import auth app.register_blueprint(views, url_prefix='/') app.register_blueprint(auth, url_prefix='/') from .models import User, Note create_database(app) login_manager = LoginManager() login_manager.login_view = 'auth.login' login_manager.init_app(app) @login_manager.user_loader def load_user(id): return User.query.get(int(id)) import backend def run(): t=Thread(target=backend.mainloop()) t.start() run() return app def create_database(app): if not path.exists('website/' + DB_NAME): db.create_all(app=app) print('Created Database!')backend.py
def mainloop(): while True: #do stuff time.sleep(3600)A step-by-step guide on how to deploy and publish an app on pythonanywhere
TLDR; In this tutorial, I describe every step on how to deploy and publish your app on pythonanywhere. I am personally really convinced by the hosting service. If you are creating an account via my affiliate links you support my work and further tutorials in this direction.
Overview
- Create a beginner account
- Initialize a web app
- Available Plans
- Setup Backend
- Web Configuration
Create a beginner account
Click this link to start: pythonanywhere.com*. You can start with a beginner account. It is totally free for three months and comes with HTTPS encryption and MySQL Database.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorScreenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorYou will be redirected and you can start the tour.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorAlso, do not forget to confirm your email address.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorInitialize a web app
(1) We can start now to add a new web app. It is pretty easy. Go to the Web tab.
And add a new web app.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorIt is opening a window, if you have a paid account, you could enter a customized URL. But, it is not relevant for now, you can modify it later.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorSelect a python framework, just choose “manual configuration” and select a python version. I chose 3.9.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorScreenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorEt voilà done!
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorAvailable Plans
Later, if you feel comfortable, you can do the “Hacker“ Plan for 5 $ USD. Is it enough for running a basic website like a portfolio? I had it for almost one year. Then I changed to the “Web dev” plan because I implemented another webpage. You can also customize any plan by parameters like CPU, the number of apps, or disk space. Compared to other services like DigitalOcean it is way cheaper because you have so much extra included.
Setup Backend
Go to the Console tab and open a new bash console.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorClone my repo from GitHub.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorCreate a virtual environment for your web app. Here is a good help on how to do it: //help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/Virtualenvs/.
mkvirtualenv webpage_env --python=/usr/bin/python3.9Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorNow, we have to install the required libraries:
pip install -r requirements.txtWeb Configuration
Next, head to the tab Web on pythonanywhere and set up the last configurations:
Under Code, set up your “source code” directory, where your app folder is:
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorYou get the information when initializing the virtual environment in your bash console:
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorThen, configure the wsgi.py as follows:
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorBelow
++++++++++ FLASK +++++++++++
uncomment the lines for import sys and change your working directory as above. Also, edit your import statement. In this case, our run.py file is the main file.
from run import app as applicationScreenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorComment any other lines and save your changes.
Also, put the directory for your virtual environment under Virtualenv.
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorThen reload and go to the URL: //testaccountab2022.pythonanywhere.com/
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorEnable HTTPS also:
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorIt should display:
Screenshot from pythonanywhere.com by authorCongratulations you are done!
Just modify this example to your needs and run it on pythonanywhere.com* for it.
Thanks for reading my article. I hope you liked it. Please feel free to like, share, and comment on it. Follow me on more content about cryptos, stocks, data analysis, and web development. I am hosting my apps on pythonanywhere.com*.
- Read my other article about creating a financial dashboard in Flask
- Check out my webpage and get in touch with me on LinkedIn: antonioblago.com
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- If you like to develop web apps, I recommend you pythonanywhere.com*
Disclaimer
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