Django Framework Lecture Notes

Introduction to Django

• Django: A free and open-source web application framework.
• Framework: Combination of components and packages to build complex applications efficiently.
• Importance of web applications for business online presence.
• Basic frontend stack: HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
• Importance of backend languages like Python in making websites dynamic.

Django as a Web Framework

• Django is known for its Model-View-Template (MVT) architecture.
• MVT: Similar to MVC but uses Model, View, and Template.
  • Model: Manages data and database structure.
  • View: Handles business logic and interaction between model and template.
  • Template: Handles the frontend part of the application.
• Django's advantages include speed, components, security, and scalability.

Setting Up Django

• Installation steps vary based on the operating system (Windows, Linux, Mac).
• Required Components:
  • Python environment
  • Django installation
  • Virtual environment for project isolation

Running a Django Project

• Create a Project: django-admin startproject [projectname]
• Create an App: python manage.py startapp [appname]
• Manage.py: Integral for running different Django commands.
• Django's development server: python manage.py runserver

Django Templates

• Templates facilitate dynamic HTML generation using Django Template Language (DTL).
• Templates support rendering dynamic data, offering a separation between logic and presentation.

Working with Models and Database

• Django ORM (Object Relational Mapper) simplifies database operations using Python classes.
• Migration commands help in creating and managing database schema.
• python manage.py makemigrations and python manage.py migrate for database table creation.

Admin Interface

• Django provides a built-in admin interface to manage and view data directly from the web browser.
• Admin users can be created using the createsuperuser command.

User Authentication System

• Django has built-in support for handling user authentication.
• Setup includes registration, login, and logout functionalities.
• Form handling and validation for user data input.

Handling Static and Media Files

• Static files like CSS, JavaScript, and images require proper configuration in the settings file.
• Media files uploaded by users need a separate directory and configuration.

Conclusion

• Django facilitates rapid development of web applications with its high-level components.
• The framework’s MVT structure enables clean separation of concerns, enhancing scalability and maintainability.

Note: This summary covers the high-level concepts and processes involved in setting up and using Django for web development as discussed in the lecture. Always refer to the official Django documentation for the most accurate and detailed guidance.