Ultimate Django Course Notes

Course Overview

• Teaching everything about Django from basics to advanced concepts.
• Aim: Build production-grade back-ends for web and mobile apps.
• Project: Build and deploy the backend for an e-commerce application.
• Comprehensive and practical course designed for job preparation.
• Instructor: Amash Hamadani, experienced in teaching software engineering skills.

Course Prerequisites

• Python Knowledge:
  • Basic Python programming skills.
  • Understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (Classes, Inheritance, Polymorphism).
• Relational Databases:
  • Familiarity with concepts such as tables, columns, primary and foreign keys, and relationships.

Course Format

• Watch the course fully, even if familiar with Django.
• Take notes during lessons (recommended for retention).
• Complete exercises for better understanding and practice.

Django Basics

What is Django?

• Free and open-source framework for building web applications using Python.
• Known for:
  • Speed: Build websites faster with less code.
  • Features: "Batteries included" framework with many built-in features.
    • Admin interface for data management.
    • Object Relational Mapper (ORM) for database interactions.
    • Built-in authentication system.
    • Caching mechanisms.
• Popularity: Used by companies like YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, Dropbox.

Web Development Concepts

• Two Parts of a Web Application:
  • Frontend: Client-side (what users interact with).
  • Backend: Server-side (data processing, business logic).
• Understanding HTTP:
  • Request/Response model: Clients send requests, servers respond.
• Building APIs:
  • Django will be used to build APIs for client applications.

Development Setup

1. Upgrade Python to the latest version.
2. Install Pip (package manager) in a virtual environment.
3. Use VS Code as the development editor.

• Install the Python extension in VS Code for better features.

Creating the First Django Project

1. Create a directory for the project.
2. Set up a virtual environment and install Django.
3. Use django-admin to start a new project.
4. Understand the project structure:
   • manage.py: Command-line utility for Django project management.
   • settings.py: Configuration settings for the Django project.
   • urls.py: URL configurations for the application.

Django Apps

• Every Django project can have multiple apps, each serving specific functionality.
• Default apps in Django projects:
  • admin: Admin interface.
  • auth: User authentication.
  • sessions: Legacy session management (not recommended for new APIs).
  • messages: Notifications.
  • static files: Serving static content.
• Custom apps can be created for specific functionalities.

Django Debugging in VS Code

Debugging Techniques

• Use breakpoints to pause execution and inspect variables.
• Step through code line by line.
• Use the debugger for exploration of function calls.
• Debug Toolbar: Installation and basic usage.

Models and Data Relationships

• Understanding models for representing data in an application.
• Exploring relationships: one-to-many, many-to-many.
• Designing models based on the needs of an e-commerce application.
  • Entities Identified:
    • Product, Collection/Category, Customer, Cart, Order, Tag.
• Importance of maintaining clean boundaries between apps to avoid coupling and bloating of the application.

Summary

• Django is a powerful framework for Python-based web applications.
• This course will guide you from basic to advanced concepts, focusing on building functional web applications.
• Emphasis on projects, practice, and practical application will help prepare for development roles.
• Looking ahead: More focus on models and building relationships between different entities in web applications.