Dramatiq vs Starling: What are the differences?

# Introduction
Dramatiq and Starling are two popular tools used for task processing and job queues in Python applications. Both offer features to handle background tasks efficiently.

1. **Concurrency Model**: Dramatiq uses event-driven concurrency based on asyncio where each task is handled by an actor process asynchronously, while Starling uses a more traditional thread-based model where each task runs in parallel within a pool of worker threads.

2. **Transport Protocol**: Dramatiq supports multiple transport protocols such as AMQP, Redis, and more, providing flexibility in choosing how tasks are distributed and processed. In contrast, Starling primarily relies on Redis as the messaging broker, simplifying the setup but offering less protocol variety.

3. **Extensibility**: Dramatiq comes with a robust plugin system allowing developers to extend functionality easily by adding custom middleware or custom message serialization, providing a high level of customization. Starling, on the other hand, has a simpler architecture without as many extension points, limiting the level of customization available.

4. **Monitoring and Metrics**: Dramatiq offers built-in metrics tracking and monitoring tools, making it easier to analyze task performance and monitor queue health. Starling lacks such built-in monitoring features, requiring developers to implement external tools for tracking metrics and monitoring queue performance.

5. **Community Support**: Dramatiq has a strong and active community that regularly contributes updates and new features, ensuring ongoing support and development. While Starling also has community support, it may not be as extensive or active as Dramatiq's community, potentially leading to slower updates and fewer resources available for assistance.

6. **Documentation**: Dramatiq is well-documented with comprehensive guides and examples, making it easier for developers to get started and troubleshoot issues. In comparison, Starling's documentation may be more limited or lacking in detailed explanations, potentially causing challenges for users looking to leverage advanced features or solve complex problems.

In Summary, Dramatiq and Starling differ significantly in their concurrency models, transport protocols, extensibility, monitoring capabilities, community support, and documentation quality, making each tool suitable for different use cases and development preferences.