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Django Framework Structure

Django follows a structure often referred to as MVT (Model-View-Template), which is closely related to the more common MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern. Here's a breakdown of each component:

1. Model (M)

  • Represents the data structure
  • Contains the essential fields and behaviors of the data you're storing
  • Usually maps to a single database table
  • Example: A User model might contain fields like username, email, password

2. View (V)

  • Receives web requests and returns web responses
  • Contains the logic to process the data from the models
  • Equivalent to the Controller in MVC frameworks
  • Example: A view might fetch all users from the database and prepare them for display

3. Template (T)

  • Describes how the data should be presented
  • Usually HTML with Django template language
  • Equivalent to the View in MVC frameworks
  • Example: An HTML file that loops through a list of users and displays their information

Key Points:

  • Django's "View" is not the same as MVC's "View"
  • Django's "Template" serves the purpose of MVC's "View"
  • The framework provides a URL dispatcher (urls.py) that maps URLs to views

Flow of a typical Django request:

  1. A request comes to a URL
  2. Django uses the URL configuration to call the appropriate View
  3. The View interacts with the Model to fetch/update data
  4. The View then renders a Template, passing it any necessary data
  5. The rendered Template is sent back as a response to the user

This structure allows for a clear separation of concerns, making Django applications easier to develop, maintain, and scale.


django training


Django Development Workflow and Project Structure

1. Project Setup

my_project/
    manage.py
    my_project/
        __init__.py
        settings.py
        urls.py
        asgi.py
        wsgi.py
    apps/
        app1/
            __init__.py
            admin.py
            apps.py
            models.py
            tests.py
            views.py
            urls.py
            migrations/
            templates/
                app1/
            static/
                app1/
        app2/
            # Similar structure to app1
    templates/
    static/
    media/
    requirements.txt
    .gitignore
    README.md

2. Development Workflow

  1. Plan Your Project

    • Define models, views, and URL structure
    • Create a list of features and prioritize them
  2. Set Up the Project

    • Create a virtual environment
    • Install Django and other dependencies
    • Start a new Django project
    • Configure settings.py (database, static files, etc.)
  3. Create Apps

    • Use python manage.py startapp for each major feature
    • Move apps into the apps/ directory for better organization
  4. Define Models

    • Design your data schema in models.py
    • Create migrations: python manage.py makemigrations
    • Apply migrations: python manage.py migrate
  5. Create Views and Templates

    • Implement view logic in views.py
    • Create corresponding HTML templates
  6. Configure URLs

    • Set up URL patterns in urls.py (both project and app level)
  7. Implement Forms

    • Create forms for data input and processing
  8. Add Static Files

    • Organize CSS, JavaScript, and images in static directories
  9. Set Up Admin Interface

    • Customize admin.py for each app
  10. Write Tests

    • Create unit tests for models, views, and forms
    • Run tests frequently: python manage.py test
  11. Implement Authentication and Authorization

    • Set up user registration, login, and permissions
  12. Continuous Development and Iteration

    • Regularly commit changes to version control
    • Refactor code as needed
    • Add new features incrementally
  13. Documentation

    • Maintain a README.md with project setup instructions
    • Document complex parts of your code
  14. Deployment Preparation

    • Set up production settings
    • Collect static files: python manage.py collectstatic
    • Configure your web server (e.g., Gunicorn, Nginx)

Best Practices

  • Follow PEP 8 style guide for Python code
  • Use meaningful names for variables, functions, and classes
  • Keep views thin, move business logic to models or separate service classes
  • Use class-based views for reusable, DRY code
  • Leverage Django's built-in features (forms, authentication, admin) when possible
  • Use environment variables for sensitive information
  • Regularly update dependencies and Django version

Django Development: Advanced Concepts (Phase 2)

1. Advanced Model Techniques

  • Model Inheritance:
    • Abstract base classes
    • Multi-table inheritance
    • Proxy models
  • Custom Model Managers
  • Optimizing QuerySets:
    • select_related() and prefetch_related()
    • Aggregation and annotation
  • Database Transactions
  • Custom Fields

2. Advanced Views and Templates

  • Class-Based Views:
    • Generic views (ListView, DetailView, etc.)
    • Mixins for reusable functionality
  • Custom Template Tags and Filters
  • Context Processors
  • Middleware:
    • Creating custom middleware
    • Modifying request/response objects

3. Forms and Validation

  • Model Forms
  • Formsets: Handling multiple forms on a single page
  • Custom Form Fields and Widgets
  • Advanced Form Validation
  • Django Crispy Forms for better form rendering

4. Authentication and Authorization

  • Custom User Models
  • Social Authentication (e.g., using django-allauth)
  • Token-Based Authentication for APIs
  • Permission and Groups: Fine-grained access control
  • Django Guardian for object-level permissions

5. REST API Development

  • Django Rest Framework (DRF):
    • Serializers
    • ViewSets and Routers
    • Authentication classes
    • Throttling and pagination
  • API Documentation (e.g., Swagger/OpenAPI)

6. Asynchronous Tasks and Background Jobs

  • Celery for task queues
  • Django Channels for WebSockets and real-time features
  • Periodic Tasks using Celery Beat

7. Caching Strategies

  • Django's Caching Framework
  • Database Query Caching
  • Template Fragment Caching
  • Using Redis or Memcached

8. Testing and Quality Assurance

  • Advanced Testing Techniques:
    • Factory Boy for test data
    • Mocking external services
    • Selenium for end-to-end testing
  • Continuous Integration (CI) setup
  • Code Coverage tools

9. Performance Optimization

  • Database Optimization:
    • Indexing
    • Raw SQL when necessary
  • Profiling and Debugging:
    • Django Debug Toolbar
    • New Relic or similar APM tools
  • Optimizing Static Assets:
    • Compression and minification
    • Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

10. Deployment and DevOps

  • Containerization with Docker
  • Orchestration with Kubernetes
  • Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines
  • Monitoring and Logging:
    • ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
    • Prometheus and Grafana

11. Security Enhancements

  • Django Security Middleware
  • Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Protection
  • SQL Injection Prevention
  • Content Security Policy (CSP)
  • Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

12. Internationalization and Localization

  • Django's i18n Framework
  • Translation Management
  • Handling Timezones

Best Practices for Phase 2

  • Implement comprehensive logging
  • Use database migrations for all schema changes
  • Regularly audit and update dependencies
  • Implement proper error handling and custom error pages
  • Use feature flags for gradual rollouts
  • Document APIs and complex functionality
  • Conduct regular security audits
  • Optimize for both mobile and desktop experiences

Streamlined Django Setup with Conda and pip

1. Create environment.yml file

Create a file named environment.yml with the following content:

name: django_env
channels:
  - defaults
dependencies:
  - python=3.9
  - pip
  - pip:
    - -r requirements.txt

2. Create requirements.txt file

Create a file named requirements.txt with your Python package dependencies:

django==4.2.5
djangorestframework==3.14.0

3. Create and activate the Conda environment

Run the following command in the directory containing your environment.yml file:

conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate django_env

4. Create Django project and app

django-admin startproject myproject
cd myproject
python manage.py startapp myapp

5. Update dependencies (when needed)

If you need to add new packages, update requirements.txt and run:

pip install -r requirements.txt

6. Recreate environment (for team members or new setups)

conda env create -f environment.yml --force