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Django

Introduction to Django​

What is Django?​

Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It follows the "batteries-included" philosophy, providing many built-in features to handle common web development tasks, such as authentication, routing, and database management.

Why Use Django?​

Django is favored because it:

  • Rapid Development: Provides tools and libraries to build applications quickly.
  • Scalability: Efficiently handles high-traffic sites.
  • Security: Includes features to help developers build secure websites.
  • Versatility: Suitable for various applications, from content management systems to social networks.
  • Admin Interface: Automatically generates an admin panel to manage your data.
  • ORM: Uses an Object-Relational Mapping system to interact with databases.

When to Use Django​

Django is best suited for:

  • Data-Driven Applications: Projects that require complex data handling.
  • Content Management Systems: Building CMSs with Django's robust admin interface.
  • E-commerce Sites: Handling transactions, user authentication, and database interactions.
  • APIs: Building RESTful APIs using Django REST Framework.
  • Rapid Prototyping: Quickly developing and iterating on ideas.

When Not to Use Django​

Django may not be the best choice for:

  • Small Static Websites: Overhead of the framework may be unnecessary for simple, static sites.
  • Real-Time Applications: Projects requiring real-time updates (e.g., chat applications) might benefit more from frameworks like Node.js with Socket.IO.
  • Frontend-Heavy Applications: If the project heavily relies on client-side rendering and interactivity, a frontend framework/library like React or Vue.js with a backend API might be more suitable.

Comparison to Other Frameworks​

  • Django vs. Flask:
    • Django: Full-featured, "batteries-included" framework.
    • Flask: Lightweight and flexible, allowing for more customization.
  • Django vs. Ruby on Rails:
    • Django: Python-based, strong in scalability and versatility.
    • Rails: Ruby-based, convention over configuration philosophy, great for rapid development.

Basic Django Commands​

CommandDescription
django-admin startproject <project_name>Creates a new Django project.
python manage.py startapp <app_name>Creates a new application within the project.
python manage.py runserverStarts the development server.
python manage.py makemigrationsPrepares database migrations based on changes to models.
python manage.py migrateApplies the migrations to the database.
python manage.py createsuperuserCreates an admin user for the Django admin interface.

Getting Started with Django​

1. Set Up Your Environment​

  • Install Python: Download and install Python from python.org.

  • Install Django: Use pip to install Django:

    pip install django

2. Create a New Django Project​

  • Command: Start a new project:

    django-admin startproject myproject
    cd myproject

3. Create a New Application​

  • Command: Create a new app within the project:

    python manage.py startapp myapp

4. Define Models​

  • Add Models: Define data models in myapp/models.py:

    from django.db import models

    class Article(models.Model):
        title = models.CharField(max_length=100)
        content = models.TextField()
        published_date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)

5. Create and Apply Migrations​

  • Command: Prepare and apply database migrations:

    python manage.py makemigrations
    python manage.py migrate

6. Create an Admin User​

  • Command: Create a superuser to access the admin interface:

    python manage.py createsuperuser

7. Register Models in Admin​

  • Register Models: Register your models in myapp/admin.py to manage them through the admin interface:

    from django.contrib import admin
    from .models import Article

    admin.site.register(Article)

8. Start the Development Server​

  • Command: Run the development server:

    python manage.py runserver

    • Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:8000/admin to access the admin panel.

Summary​

Django is a robust and versatile web framework that supports rapid development and clean design. It's an excellent choice for building data-driven applications, content management systems, and APIs. With built-in features for security, scalability, and an automatically generated admin interface, Django simplifies the development process and helps you build powerful web applications quickly.

Contributors

  • Jessie Liu