This document introduces Django, an open-source Python web framework. It discusses how Django features like an object-relational mapper, automatic admin interface, URL routing, templating, caching, internationalization, and reusable apps allow for rapid development. It also describes how the Discovery Creative agency uses Django internally for various business and partner projects, saving the company millions of dollars.

1. Django at the Disco
An introduction to the Django Web framework and how it's
used by the Discovery Creative team
Rich Leland
Discovery Creative
@richleland
richard_leland@discovery.com
http://creative.discovery.com

2. What is ?
• Python Web framework
• Originally developed for The World Company
• Named after jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt
• Released under BSD license in 2005

3. Who’s using it?
• NASA
• PBS
• Discovery
• National Geographic
• The New York Times
• Broadway
• WNYC
• Google
• LA Times
• LexisNexis

4. Example project structure
myproject
__init__.py
manage.py
settings.py
urls.py
myapp
__init__.py
admin.py
models.py
urls.py
views.py
static
templates
myproject

5. Key Features
• Object-relational mapper
• Automatic admin interface
• Elegant, Regex-based URL design
• Template language
• Cache system
• Internationalization
• Community

6. Object-relational mapper
from django.db import models
class Network(models.Model):
"""
Represents a member of our family of Networks.
"""
visible = models.BooleanField(default=True)
name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
slug = models.SlugField(unique=True)
large_logo = models.ImageField(upload_to='ugc/logos/lg/', blank=True)
small_logo = models.ImageField(upload_to='ugc/logos/sm/', blank=True)
link = models.URLField(verify_exists=False, blank=True)
...
# in another file, e.g. views.py:
from myapp.models import Network
Network.objects.all()
Network.objects.get(pk=5)
Network.objects.filter(slug=”some-network”)

7. Automatic admin interface
class NetworkAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
list_display = ('name', 'admin_logo', 'link', 'visible')
list_filter = ('visible',)
search_fields = ('name',)
prepopulated_fields = {
'slug': ('name',)
}
admin.site.register(Network, NetworkAdmin)

10. Elegant, RegEx-based URL design
from django.conf.urls.defaults import *
urlpatterns = patterns('',
(r'^admin/doc/', include('django.contrib.admindocs.urls')),
(r'^admin/(.*)', admin.site.root),
# included url confs from other apps
(r'^account/', include('registration.urls')),
(r'^bookmarks/', include('bookmarks.urls')),
(r'^messages/', include('mailer.urls')),
# named url patterns pointing to a view
url(r'^downloads/add/(?P<content_type_id>[d]+)/(?P<object_id>[d]+)/$',
'pressweb.media.views.add_download',
name='add-download'),
url(r'^$',
'pressweb.network.views.region_list',
name='select-region-list'),
)

11. URL structure breakdown
(r'^admin/doc/', include('django.contrib.admindocs.urls')),
RegEx pattern include of another urls.py
url(r'^networks/(?P<object_id>[d]+)/$', RegEx pattern
view='myapp.views.network_detail', views.py
name='add-download'), pattern name

12. Template system
{% extends "base.html" %}
{% load i18n %}
{% block title %}Bookmarks: {% endblock %}
{% block bodyclass %}bookmarks wide{% endblock %}
{% block bodyid %}{{ network.slug }}{% endblock %}
{% block content %}
{% if bookmarks %}
<div class="list-view">
{% for bookmark in bookmarks %}
<div class="item {% cycle 'odd' 'even' %}">
<div class="column1">{{ bookmark.created|date:"F j, Y" }}</div>
<div class="column2">{{ bookmark.title }}</div>
<div class="column3"><a href="{{ bookmark.url }}">Go to Page</a></
div>
</div>
{% endfor %}
</div>
{% endif %}
{% endblock %}

13. Template system
{% extends "base.html" %}
{% load i18n %}
{% block title %}Bookmarks: {% endblock %}
{% block bodyclass %}bookmarks wide{% endblock %}
{% block bodyid %}{{ network.slug }}{% endblock %}
{% block content %}
{% if bookmarks %}
<div class="list-view">
{% for bookmark in bookmarks %}
<div class="item {% cycle 'odd' 'even' %}">
<div class="column1">{{ bookmark.created|date:"F j, Y" }}</div>
<div class="column2">{{ bookmark.title }}</div>
<div class="column3"><a href="{{ bookmark.url }}">Go to Page</a></
div>
</div>
{% endfor %}
</div>
{% endif %}
{% endblock %}

14. Cache system
Site-wide cache
MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = (
'django.middleware.cache.UpdateCacheMiddleware',
'django.middleware.common.CommonMiddleware',
'django.middleware.cache.FetchFromCacheMiddleware',
)
Per-view cache
@cache_page(60 * 15)
def my_view(request):
...

15. Cache system
Template fragment caching
{% load cache %}
{% cache 500 sidebar %}
.. sidebar ..
{% endcache %}
Low-level cache API
from django.core.cache import cache
cache.set('my_key', 'hello, world!', 30)
cache.get('my_key')

16. Internationalization
i18n in templates
{% trans "Bookmarks" %}
{% blocktrans %}This object is called {{ obj.name }}{% endblocktrans %}
i18n in modules
from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
class MyThing(models.Model):
name = models.CharField(_('name'), help_text=_('This is the help text'))
Create message files (.po), compile them (.mo)
django-admin.py makemessages -l pt_BR
django-admin.py compilemessages

17. Contrib Apps
• Authentication
• Admin
• Cache
• Comments
• CSRF
• Email
• i18n
• Jython support
• Serialization
• Syndication
• GIS (GeoDjango)

18. Community
• Core devs actively involved
• Thousands of community-contributed apps
• IRC: #django and #django-dev
• Mailing lists: django-users and django-developers
• Twitter: @djangotracker

19. Discovery Creative
• In-house ad agency for Discovery and family of networks
• Established 1996
• 100 strong: design, dev, photo, copy, account services,
motion, prepress, production
• Web team established 2006
• 2 Django devs
• 4 Designers/front-end devs
• 2 Project managers
• 1 QA manager
• Located in Silver Spring & London
• Service all networks and business units globally

20. How we’re using Django
• Rapid application development
• Combination of B2B, B2C, in-house apps (directory)
• Working with partners (Siemens, AFI/Silverdocs)
• Saving the company money: 2007: $900k, 2008: $1.5M

25. Learn more
• docs.djangoproject.com
• djangobook.com
• djangosnippets.org
• Practical Django Projects
• Djangocon: Sept 8-12 in Portland
• django-district.org

26. Thank you!
Rich Leland
Discovery Creative
@richleland
richard_leland@discovery.com
http://creative.discovery.com