Learn Django Tips, Tricks & Techniques for Developers

Learn Django: Tips, Tricks &
Techniques for Developers
Published on: December 4, 2023
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 &
Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com

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.
Content Highlights
Things to Know about Django
Django for Beginners - Learn the Basics
Best Practices for Django Development
What's New in Django?
5 Hidden Gems of Django You Should Know
Best GitHub Repositories For Django
Conclusion
MarsDevs · Django Overview
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.
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