Starlette
Starlette is a lightweight ASGI framework for Python designed for building high-performance async web services and APIs. It provides routing, middleware, WebSocket support, background tasks, and static file serving with minimal overhead. Starlette serves as the foundation layer beneath FastAPI and is used directly when a leaner surface area is preferred over FastAPI's additional abstractions.
The framework is maintained by the Encode organization and has a track record of stability across the Python async web ecosystem.
Placed in Languages & Frameworks / Assess / inner. Starlette is established, production-proven infrastructure in the wider Python async web space and the de facto base layer beneath FastAPI. That standing rests on ecosystem maturity, not on first-person use here: the ring gate for Trial and Adopt requires building against it directly in the user's own work, which has not happened, and third-party reputation does not substitute. It stays at Assess until used first-person. Inner position reflects high relevance and a low barrier to trial rather than niche applicability.
