Setting Up a Django Development Environment

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up and testing a Django development environment on Windows, Linux (Ubuntu), and macOS. Regardless of your preferred operating system, this article aims to provide you with all the essential steps to kickstart your Django app development journey.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the Django development environment setup, you should have some fundamental knowledge:

• Basic familiarity with using a terminal/command line.
• An understanding of how to install software packages on your development computer’s operating system.

Objective

By the end of this guide, you should have a fully functional Django (version 4.*) development environment up and running on your computer. Let’s begin by exploring what the Django development environment entails.

Django Development Environment Overview

Django simplifies the process of configuring your computer for web application development. This section offers insights into what you can expect from the development environment and provides an overview of the setup and configuration options. We’ll discuss the recommended method of installing the Django development environment on Ubuntu, macOS, and Windows, followed by testing the setup.

What is the Django Development Environment?

The Django development environment is essentially an installation of Django on your local computer. It serves as a platform for developing and testing Django applications before deploying them to a production environment. Key components of this environment include Python scripts for creating and managing Django projects and a built-in development web server for local testing.

While there are other tools that complement the development environment, such as text editors or integrated development environments (IDEs) for code editing and version control systems like Git for managing code versions, we will focus primarily on setting up Django itself in this guide.

Django Setup Options

Django offers flexibility in terms of installation and configuration. You can:

• Install Django on various operating systems.
• Download it from different sources, including the Python Package Index (PyPi), your computer’s package manager, or source code.
• Configure Django to work with various databases, which may require separate installations.
• Run Django either in the main system Python environment or within isolated Python virtual environments.

Each option entails slightly different configurations and setups. In the following sections, we will guide you through setting up Django on specific operating systems, which will serve as our reference throughout this guide.

What Operating Systems Are Supported?

Django web applications can run on a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux/Unix, and Solaris. Virtually any computer capable of running Python 3 can accommodate Django for development purposes. In this guide, we will provide detailed instructions for Windows, macOS, and Linux/Unix.

Choosing the Right Python Version

The Django project recommends using the latest supported Python release. Ensure you have the appropriate Python version installed on your system to work with Django effectively.

Downloading Django

You can obtain Django from various sources:

1. Python Package Repository (PyPi): Using the pip tool is the preferred method to get the latest stable version of Django.
2. Computer’s Package Manager: Some operating systems bundle Django with their package managers, offering a familiar installation process. However, packaged versions may be outdated and can only be installed into the system Python environment.
3. Installing from Source: Advanced users may choose to install the bleeding-edge version of Django from the source, mainly when contributing to Django’s development.

For the purposes of this guide, we will demonstrate how to install Django from PyPi to ensure you have the latest stable version.

Choosing the Database

Django officially supports several databases, including PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MySQL, Oracle, and SQLite. While Django’s Object-Relational Mapper (ORM) abstracts many database differences, it’s advisable to use the same database for both development and production to avoid potential compatibility issues. In this guide, we will use the SQLite database for its simplicity, which is suitable for read-only applications.

System-Wide Installation or Python Virtual Environment?

When you install Python 3, you create a global environment shared by all Python 3 code on your computer. While you can install Python packages in this environment, you can only have one version of each package at a time. This limitation can become problematic if you need different Django versions for various projects.

Experienced Python/Django developers often employ Python virtual environments to overcome this limitation, allowing multiple Django environments on a single computer. The Django development team also recommends the use of Python virtual environments. Throughout this guide, we assume you have installed Django within a virtual environment, and we will illustrate how to do so.

Installing Python 3

To begin working with Django, you must have Python 3 installed on your operating system. You will also need the Python Package Index tool, pip3, for managing Python packages and libraries used by Django and other Python applications.

The following sections provide instructions for checking your Python version and installing Python 3 for Ubuntu Linux 20.04, macOS, and Windows 10.

Please note that the steps outlined here are based on the assumption that you have a working understanding of your operating system’s terminal/command line.

Installing Django on Windows

Before you can start developing Django applications on Windows, you’ll need to set up a development environment. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and configure the necessary tools.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• A Windows computer with administrative privileges.
• Python 3 installed on your system.
• pip, the Python package manager, installed.

Step 1: Create a Virtual Environment

A virtual environment is an isolated environment where you can install Python packages without affecting your system-wide Python installation. It’s highly recommended for Django development. Here’s how to create one:

1. Open a Command Prompt window with administrative privileges.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your virtual environment. For example, to create it in a folder named “myenv” on your desktop, you can use the following command (replace “Desktop” with the path to your desired location):
   shellCopy code

   cd Desktop

3. Create the virtual environment by running the following command:
   shellCopy code

   python -m venv myenv


   This command will create a virtual environment named “myenv” in the current directory.

4. Activate the virtual environment:
   shellCopy code

   myenv\Scripts\activate


   You should see the virtual environment’s name in your command prompt, indicating that it’s active.

Step 2: Install Django

With your virtual environment active, you can now install Django using pip:

This command will download and install the latest stable version of Django.

Step 3: Verify Django Installation

To verify that Django was installed successfully, you can check its version:

This command should display the installed Django version.

Step 4: Create a Django Project

You’re now ready to create your first Django project. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your project and run:

This command will create a new Django project named “myproject.”

Step 5: Run the Development Server

Move into your project’s directory:

Start the development server:

You should see output indicating that the development server is running. Open your web browser and go to http://localhost:8000/. You should see the Django “Welcome to Django” page, confirming that your Django development environment is set up correctly.

Installing Django on macOS

Setting up a Django development environment on macOS is straightforward. This guide will walk you through the process of installing the necessary tools and configuring your system.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• A macOS computer with administrative privileges.
• Python 3 installed on your system.
• pip, the Python package manager, installed.

Step 1: Create a Virtual Environment

A virtual environment is a clean, isolated environment where you can install Python packages without affecting your system-wide Python installation. It’s recommended for Django development. Follow these steps to create one:

1. Open the Terminal application on your macOS.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your virtual environment. For example, to create it in a folder named “myenv” on your desktop, you can use the following command (replace “Desktop” with the path to your desired location):
   shellCopy code

   cd ~/Desktop

3. Create the virtual environment by running the following command:
   shellCopy code

   python3 -m venv myenv


   This command will create a virtual environment named “myenv” in the current directory.

4. Activate the virtual environment:
   shellCopy code

   source myenv/bin/activate


   You should see the virtual environment’s name in your terminal prompt, indicating that it’s active.

Step 2: Install Django

With your virtual environment active, you can now install Django using pip:

This command will download and install the latest stable version of Django.

Step 3: Verify Django Installation

To verify that Django was installed successfully, you can check its version:

This command should display the installed Django version.

Step 4: Create a Django Project

You’re now ready to create your first Django project. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your project and run:

This command will create a new Django project named “myproject.”

Step 5: Run the Development Server

Move into your project’s directory:

Start the development server:

You should see output indicating that the development server is running. Open your web browser and go to http://localhost:8000/. You should see the Django “Welcome to Django” page, confirming that your Django development environment is set up correctly.

Installing Django on Ubuntu Linux

Setting up a Django development environment on Ubuntu Linux is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the steps to install the necessary tools and configure your system.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• A computer running Ubuntu Linux with administrative privileges.
• Python 3 installed on your system.
• pip, the Python package manager, installed.

Step 1: Create a Virtual Environment

A virtual environment is a clean, isolated environment where you can install Python packages without affecting your system-wide Python installation. It’s recommended for Django development. Follow these steps to create one:

1. Open a Terminal window on your Ubuntu Linux.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your virtual environment. For example, to create it in your home directory, you can use the following command:
   shellCopy code

   cd ~

3. Create the virtual environment by running the following command:
   shellCopy code

   python3 -m venv myenv


   This command will create a virtual environment named “myenv” in the current directory.

4. Activate the virtual environment:
   shellCopy code

   source myenv/bin/activate


   You should see the virtual environment’s name in your terminal prompt, indicating that it’s active.

Step 2: Install Django

With your virtual environment active, you can now install Django using pip:

This command will download and install the latest stable version of Django.

Step 3: Verify Django Installation

To verify that Django was installed successfully, you can check its version:

This command should display the installed Django version.

Step 4: Create a Django Project

You’re now ready to create your first Django project. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your project and run:

This command will create a new Django project named “myproject.”

Step 5: Run the Development Server

Move into your project’s directory:

Start the development server:

You should see output indicating that the development server is running. Open your web browser and go to http://localhost:8000/. You should see the Django “Welcome to Django” page, confirming that your Django development environment is set up correctly.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up a Django development environment on your chosen operating system. You’re now ready to start building web applications with Django. This development environment provides you with the tools needed to create, test, and deploy Django projects efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, Django offers a powerful framework for web development, and your journey has just begun. Happy coding!