Python: Installing Flask dependency

This documentation is part of the Creating a REST API guide. View the full guide here: How to create a REST API using Flask.

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For this example, we only need one dependency: Flask.

Flask is a lightweight web framework that enables rapid development of web applications. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, allowing developers to build and deploy web services quickly. Built-in support for routing, templating, and handling HTTP requests makes Flask an excellent choice for creating REST APIs.

Install Flask (and python-dotenv) using pip:

pip install Flask python-dotenv

We are installing the Flask and python-dotenv modules here. You will soon see why we use python-dotenv (spoiler: it is for managing environment variables).

After installation, freeze the package versions to a requirements.txt file:

pip freeze > requirements.txt

Freezing your dependencies ensures that your production server or colleagues use the same versions as you. Just a few seconds of work can prevent many future headaches.