Batteries vs. Speed: The Django/FastAPI Debate with Calvin Hendryx-Parker and Frank Wiles

Few debates in the Python world generate more discussion than Django vs. FastAPI. After decades of building production systems with both, we've arrived at a simple conclusion: they don't actually do the same thing, and that changes everything about how you should evaluate them.

This talk walks through a structured, no-hype comparison across three areas:

What they share:

Python-native development experience
Async support
Ecosystem depth and active communities

Where Django excels:

Batteries-included philosophy
The ORM, admin, auth, and forms out of the box
A rich plugin ecosystem that makes full-stack web development fast and predictable

Where FastAPI pulls ahead:

Blazing performance
First-class type hints
A lightweight footprint ideal for shipping a focused API layer fast

Co-presented by two custom software development agency leaders who have made this exact call on behalf of real clients, this talk won't crown a winner. Instead, it will leave you with a practical decision framework: reach for FastAPI when you need a fast, focused API layer; reach for Django when you need a full-featured, maintainable application with the ecosystem already proven.

This talk was presented by Calvin Hendryx-Parker and Frank Wiles at DjangoCon US 2026 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
https://2026.djangocon.us/talks/batteries-vs-speed-the-django-fastapi-debate/

LINKS:
Follow Calvin Hendryx-Parker 👇
On Mastodon: https://Fosstodon.org/@CalvinHP
Website: https://sixfeetup.com/

Follow Frank Wiles 👇
On Mastodon: https://frankwiles.social/@frank
On X: https://x.com/fwiles
Website: https://www.revsys.com