How to Create a Django Project: Step-by-Step Guide

Django is a high-level Python web framework that enables rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. This guide will walk you through setting up your first Django project, ensuring best practices and a smooth start to your web development journey.

Prerequisites

• Python: Ensure Python 3.8 or newer is installed. Check with:

  python --version
  

• pip: Confirm pip is available:

  pip --version
  

• Virtual Environment (Recommended): Using a virtual environment isolates your project’s dependencies and avoids conflicts.

  Create and activate a virtual environment:

  python -m venv venv
  # On Linux/macOS:
  source venv/bin/activate
  # On Windows:
  venv\Scripts\activate
  

Step 1: Install Django

With your virtual environment activated, install Django using pip:

pip install django

This command fetches the latest stable version of Django and its dependencies.

Step 2: Start a New Django Project

Navigate to the directory where you want your project to reside, then run:

django-admin startproject myproject

Replace myproject with your preferred project name. This creates a new directory containing the initial Django project structure:

• manage.py

• [project_name]/__init__.py

• [project_name]/settings.py

• [project_name]/urls.py

• [project_name]/asgi.py

• [project_name]/wsgi.py

Step 3: Run the Development Server

Change into your project directory:

cd myproject

Start the development server:

python manage.py runserver

If successful, you’ll see output indicating the server is running at http://127.0.0.1:8000/. Open this URL in your browser to view the default Django welcome page.

Next Steps

You now have a working Django project! Here are some suggestions for what to do next:

• Create an app: Django projects are composed of one or more apps. Start with:

  python manage.py startapp myapp
  

• Explore settings: Review and adjust settings.py for your needs (e.g., database configuration, installed apps).

• Version control: Initialize a Git repository to track your project’s changes:

  git init
  echo "venv/" >> .gitignore
  git add .
  git commit -m "Initial Django project setup"
  

Tips

• Always activate your virtual environment before working on your project.

• Use descriptive names for your projects and apps.

• Refer to the official Django documentation for in-depth guidance.

Congratulations! You’ve set up your first Django project and are ready to start building robust web applications.