# Flask

Python

Our Flask integration lets you instrument individual HTTP requests. Please note that Blackfire supports Flask 0.12 and higher.

[Install Blackfire for Python](../../install/python).

## Automatic Instrumentation

The recommended way to use Blackfire with Flask is to use the [blackfire-python command](blackfire-python), as it configures the needed bits for you.

Run your webserver with `blackfire-python` command:

```bash
export FLASK_APP=hello.py
blackfire-python flask run
```

Or with `gunicorn`:

```bash
blackfire-python gunicorn myproject:app
```

## Manual Installation

If you prefer configuring Flask manually, you can add the following call manually within your code:

```python
import blackfire
blackfire.patch_all()
```

This call should be made **as early as possible** in the lifecycle of an application, **ideally before any other** `import` **statements**.

Then, restart your server.

> **Caution**
>
> We used to provide a Flask middleware along with the Blackfire Python SDK, `blackfire.middleware.FlaskMiddleware`.
>
> This middleware is now deprecated in favor of the `blackfire-python` or the `blackfire.patch_all()` call. Using the middleware will trigger a deprecation warning.

## Profiling HTTP Requests

You can use the `blackfire curl` command to profile specific requests:

```bash
blackfire curl http://localhost:5000/
```

You can also use one of our browser extensions for [Firefox](../../integrations/browsers/firefox) or [Chrome](../../integrations/browsers/chrome).

Read more about [profiling web applications with a browser](../../profiling-cookbooks/profiling-http-via-browser), or [profiling with the CLI](../../profiling-cookbooks/profiling-http-via-cli).