Programming the web with Python and Django
Python is versatile, cutting its way into countless applications and uses and crafting dynamic web experiences is where it truly shines. But on the real, programming the web with Python can feel like navigating a jungle for beginners (and even some seasoned developers!).
Staring at the terminal in front of you and wondering what next - turning that app idea into reality? We've all been there so has many Python learners stumbled when it came to structuring a Django project from scratch.
Going back to the basics, we will be building a real-world application: Community Hub – a forum-like platform where members can post blog articles, learn the process of building Django apps, and grow. Think user sign-in/-up, engaging blog posts, and personalized profiles!
Project Setup, Step-by-Step
First things first: the blueprint. Setting up a boilerplate ensures a solid foundation for our Community Hub project.
# Create the project
django-admin startproject communityhub
# Navigate into the project directory
cd communityhub
# Create the app
python manage.py startapp app
Building our data Models
Next, we'll dive into defining the structure of our data with Django's powerful models.
# app/models.py
from django.db import models
from django.contrib.auth.models import User
class Profile(models.Model):
user = models.OneToOneField(User, on_delete=models.CASCADE)
bio = models.TextField(blank=True)
def __str__(self):
return self.user.username
class BlogPost(models.Model):
title = models.CharField(max_length=200)
content = models.TextField()
author = models.ForeignKey(User, on_delete=models.CASCADE)
created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
def __str__(self):
return self.title
Let’s add 'app' to INSTALLED_APPS in communityhub/settings.py:
# communityhub/settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = [
'django.contrib.admin',
'django.contrib.auth',
'django.contrib.contenttypes',
'django.contrib.sessions',
'django.contrib.messages',
'django.contrib.staticfiles',
'app', # Add your app here
]
And then we run our migrations:
python manage.py makemigrations
python manage.py migrate
Writing Our Views
Writing our view logics that handles user requests, process data and returns a response.
# app/views.py
from django.shortcuts import render
from .models import BlogPost
def blog_list(request):
posts = BlogPost.objects.all()
return render(request, 'app/blog_list.html', {'posts': posts})
Matching our URLs to Views
We will have to map our URLs to specific views, to help access and navigate our application.
# communityhub/urls.py
from django.contrib import admin
from django.urls import path, include
urlpatterns = [
path('admin/', admin.site.urls),
path('', include('app.urls')), # Include app's urls
]
And now, we create app/urls.py:
# app/urls.py
from django.urls import path
from . import views
urlpatterns = [
path('', views.blog_list, name='blog_list'),
]
Templates to render our Views
Finally, we create a text-document know as templates to display our data and create a user-friendly interface. It “can generate any text-based format (HTML, XML, CSV, etc.).”
Create a templates/app directory and a blog_list.html file inside it:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Blog Posts</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Blog Posts</h1>
<ul>
{% for post in posts %}
<li>
<h2>{{ post.title }}</h2>
<p>By: {{ post.author.username }}</p>
<p>{{ post.content }}</p>
<p>Created: {{ post.created_at }}</p>
</li>
{% endfor %}
</ul>
</body>
</html>
Let’s not forget to configure the TEMPLATES setting in communityhub/settings.py:
# communityhub/settings.py
import os
TEMPLATES = [
{
'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.django.DjangoTemplates',
'DIRS': [os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'templates')], # Add this line
'APP_DIRS': True,
'OPTIONS': {
'context_processors': [
'django.template.context_processors.debug',
'django.template.context_processors.request',
'django.contrib.auth.context_processors.auth',
'django.contrib.messages.context_processors.messages',
],
},
},
]
Now, we run the development server:
python manage.py runserver
Our application can be accessed via http://127.0.0.1:8000/ in your browser to see the blog list but we will have to create some blog posts in the admin panel first.
In our next session, "Django Deep Dive," we will explore advanced ORM techniques, delve into authentication best practices, and master admin customization.
