Learn Django: Tips, Tricks & Techniques for Developers

No coder enjoys a slog. Sure, it's wonderful to start a project from scratch now and again, but when you're pressed for time, you don't have time to mess about the fundamentals. That is why you use Django.

Django is a free, open-source Python framework meant to make back-end development easier. It allows developers to design complex, secure, and scalable apps swiftly. Every back-end or full-stack developer who values productivity and clean code can profit from having Django in their toolbox.

That means it’s true when William S. Vincent writes in his book - Django for Beginners, “Django followed Python’s “battery included” way & incorporates out-of-the-box assistance for mundane tasks in web creation.”

But where do you begin? 

To help you out, MarsDevs presents you with some Django tips and tricks that a beginner developer like you should know! Let’s dig in. 

Things to Know about Django:

Django is an advanced, open-source framework that allows Python creators to build pragmatic, functional programs. It can develop almost any website a developer can imagine, from blogs to wikis to social media networks. It is well-known for its capabilities and is interoperable with all client-side frameworks.

Django was designed with extensibility in mind. Django development explains, “Django intends to take care of the hassle of web creation & can focus on writing your app without reinventing the wheel.” 

But why use Django? Its ability to expedite & enhance the web development process speaks for itself. 

Programmers who utilize the framework can easily create, launch, and manage viable sites without being bogged down by tiresome development features. Sites designed using Django are also exceptionally safe, scalable, adaptable, portable, and maintained. 

In a nutshell, using Django will make you a more productive and efficient developer.

Django for Beginners - Learn the Basics

Django is an undeniably useful tool in the toolbox of every developer. It has a lot of pre-built functionality, such as URL routing, database connectivity, and templating, which allows developers to focus on building application-specific code rather than worrying about low-level issues.

However, getting started can be tricky. Fret not, because here we will cover the basics!

So, let’s start.

Installing and creating a Django Project

Before you can begin designing your Django application, you must first install Django. Implement this by running this command -

Once you have done this, you can start creating your first Django project & run this command.

It will generate a new directory named myproject, which will include the fundamental structure of a Django project.

Running the Development Server

Before creating your Django app, you must launch the development server. All you have to do is run this command -

It will kick off the development server, and you should be able to see your app by going to http://localhost:8000/ in your web browser.

Creating a Django App

Now that your project is set up and your development server is working properly, it's time to build your first Django app. Here, run the following command-

It will create a new directory named myapp in which the fundamental structure of a Django app will be stored.

Building a Model

Models are used in Django to figure out the structure of our database tables. In myapp/models.py, you can define a class to construct a model. Here's an example of a blog post model -

The Post class in this model contains three fields: title, content, and pub_date. The __str__ method is used to create a human-readable version of the model.

Erecting and running migrations

You must now make a migration once you have defined your model. Migrations are used to modify the database schema when your models change. Run this command & create a new migration file - myapp/migrations/.

Now, it’s time to apply the migration to the database. Simply run the below code & the database schema will be updated based on the changes in the model.

Creating a view and template

Views are used in Django to describe the logic for processing HTTP requests. By writing a function in myapp/views.py, you can construct a view. Here's an example of a view to display blog posts.

In this view, the post_list method pulls all Post objects from the database and delivers them to a template for display.

Similarly, here’s an example of a template.

This template extends the base template base.html and defines the content block. The template then loops over the posts variable and shows each blog post's title and publication date.

Building a URL

URLs are used in Django to map HTTP requests to views. In myapp/urls.py, you can generate a URL by specifying a pattern.

Here’s an example of a blog URL.

The /posts/ URL is mapped to the post_list view using this URL pattern.

Including URLs

You must add your app's URL pattern to the project's URLs now that you have established it. You can do this by making the following changes to myproject/urls.py:

In the project's URL patterns, this involves the myapp.urls module.

Testing app

It's time to test your app now that you've created your model, view, template, and URL pattern. Start the development server and navigate to http://localhost:8000/posts/ in your web browser.

 You should see a list of all blog articles in the database.

Now that you have created a Django app from scratch, it’s time to build some more. However, as Code With Stein says in his video, “It doesn't have to be anything cool and not anything big. Start with building a small blog, a to-do list, a guest book, and similar.”

Best Practices for Django Development

Django is a comprehensive web development framework that enables developers to create high-quality, scalable online applications. However, best practices for Django development must be followed to maximize Django's functionality.

Project Structure

Your Django application is built on the project structure. A well-organized project structure can improve the maintainability and scalability of your code. 

Here are some tips for structuring your Django project:

• Use a modular way: Segregate your app into apps based on features. Each app should be represented through views, templates, models & static files.
• Use relative imports: Use relative imports rather than absolute imports to make your code more portable and easier to maintain.
• Use configuration files: To customize your program, use settings files. Create separate configuration files for development, setting, and production environments.

Here’s an example -

Code Organization

Another critical part of Django development is code structure. Here are some excellent approaches for code organization:

• Use the DRY principle: Follow the DRY-Don't repeat yourself concept. Use reusable code such as functions, classes, and templates when feasible.
• Use meaningful names: Give functions, classes, and variables meaningful names. It makes your code highly readable & understandable.
• Use comments: Make use of comments to clarify the objective of your code. It makes it easier for other developers to comprehend your code.
• Use version control: To maintain your code, use a version control system like Git. It allows you to keep track of changes and work with other devs.

Here’s an example -

Testing

Testing is an essential part of Django development. It assists you in detecting flaws and problems before they reach production. Here are some tips for Django application testing:

• Write tests for all aspects of your application, including models, views, forms, and templates.
• Make use of test fixtures to generate test data. It increases the reliability and reproducibility of your testing.
• To automate your tests, use a continuous integration (CI) solution such as Travis CI or CircleCI. It allows you to detect mistakes early and frequently.

Here’s an example to help you understand better.

Deployment

The last stage of Django development is deployment. Here are some deployment best practices for your Django application:

• Use a production server: To serve your application, use a production server such as Apache or Nginx.
• Use a WSGI server: To execute your application, use a WSGI server such as Gunicorn or uWSGI.
• Use a database: To store your data, use a database such as PostgreSQL or MySQL.
• Use HTTPS: To encrypt your communications and secure your users' data.

Here’s an example of Nginx configuration

Dependency Management with Poetry

Managing dependencies may be difficult in any Python project. Using a program like Poetry may ease the process. Poetry is a Python package management and build tool that makes it simple to handle dependencies and create distributable packages.

To utilize Poetry with your Django project, you must first establish a new virtual environment and then install Django with Poetry:

You can then use Poetry to install any further dependencies required for your project. Poetry will automatically handle the installation and versioning of your dependencies, making it simple to keep a consistent environment across development, testing, and production.

What's New in Django?

Django, the renowned Python web framework, continues to expand and adapt to an ever-changing technological context. With the much-anticipated arrival of Django 5.0, you can expect numerous new features and enhancements to help you construct fast, flexible web programs.

Django 5.0 signifies the conclusion of Python 3.8 and 3.9 support. The previous Django 4.2.x series is the final functional edition with these Python versions.

If you use Django 4.2.x with Python 3.8 or 3.9, start planning your migration to a supported Python version. It will help to assure sustained stability, security, and access to the most recent Django features.

Django 5.0 is a key version that improves Python compatibility, form construction simplicity & database default characteristics. You can use new language features with support for the recent Python versions. The streamlined form construction tool provides concise & cleaner form templates.

Paul Saul writes, “These new capabilities show that Django development is still improving the platform, cementing it as one of the most popular web frameworks.”

5 Hidden Gems of Django You Should Know

Django is a sophisticated web framework that comes with a slew of capabilities. There are certain hidden gems that many developers don’t know. 

Let’s dig them out. 

1. QuerySet API

The QuerySet API in Django provides many capabilities for querying your database. Yet, many developers use only some of the possibilities offered to them.

Here are some examples -

Chaining multiple filters together

Using the Q object for complex queries

Using select_related() and prefetch_related() to optimize database queries

1. Caching

The caching mechanism in Django is an excellent approach to boosting the speed of your application. Many developers do not use it since they need to understand how it works. Here's an example of how to cache the results of expensive database queries to increase your app speed significantly.

1. Middleware

Django's middleware system allows you to easily alter incoming requests and outgoing answers. Here’s how to write your middleware and integrate it into your application.

1. Admin Site Customization

Django's admin site is an excellent method to manage your application's data, but many developers need to know that it can be tailored to their unique requirements. 

Here are some examples -

Customizing the admin site appearance

Adding custom actions to the list view

Adding custom views to the admin site

1. Signals

Django's signals system allows you to run code when specific events occur in your application. Here’s an example of using signals to simplify your code.

These features can help you take your work to the next level, whether you're a seasoned Django developer or just starting.

Best GitHub Repositories For Django

Now that we have covered everything, here’s a list of the most useful Django repositories on GitHub to help you start your Django journey.

• Xadmin (Admin Panels) - Drop-in alternative for Django admin with a boatload of advantages, total extensibility via plugin support & a stunning UI based on Twitter Bootstrap.
• Wagtail (CMS) - A Django content management system that prioritizes usability and versatility.
• Django-debug-toolbar (Debugging) - A series of panels that may be configured to display various debug details regarding the current request/response.
• Django-countries (Geolocation) - A Django application that gives nation options for forms, static flag icons, and a country field for models.
• Django-jenkins (Testing) - Continuous integration using Django and Jenkins is simple and straightforward.

Conclusion 

Summing up, Django is a robust and adaptable web framework that enables developers to create web applications with little setup and configuration. The book - The Definitive Guide to Django mentions, “Django is designed to let you focus on the fun, interesting parts of your job while easing the pain of the repetitive bits.”

We have covered many tips and tricks to help you start your Django project. Of course, this is only the beginning of what Django can accomplish. If you want more, the official Django documentation is an excellent resource for learning more about these topics and developing your skills as a Django developer.

Need help with Django web development? Reach out to MarsDevs. We have excellent developers just to ease your journey.

Book a slot with us today!

FAQs

1. What Is Django Used For?

Django is a free, open-source, collaborative online framework for building safe, efficient, and effective websites, web pages, and web apps. 

2. Is Django Easy to Learn?

Django is relatively easy to learn as a framework, but it requires some prior understanding of Python to use properly.

3. Is Django a Programming Language?

Django isn't a programming language; it is a framework for coding designed to operate with Python, a back-end coding language. 

4. Is Django still relevant in 2023?

It is free and open-source, with a big and active development community. Django is a sophisticated web framework that allows you to create complex, database-backed online applications. Hence, you can learn Django in 2023.

5. Which Python is best for Django?

The newest version of Python 3 is preferred for Django since it is frequently quicker, has more features, and is better supported.