Frameworks vs Libraries

Framework vs Library

• A framework is in control, while a library is controlled by the developer
• Frameworks provide a structure for applications, with predefined places for code
• Libraries are tools used as needed, without imposing on application design or flow

Django Framework

• High-level Python web framework
• Encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design
• Built by experienced developers to take care of web development hassles
• Particularly good for developing complex, data-driven websites
• Follows the "Don't Repeat Yourself" (DRY) principle
• Offers a "batteries-included" approach, providing many features out of the box

Setting up a Django Project

• Install Django using pip
• Create a new project using django-admin startproject mysite
• Start the development server using python manage.py runserver

Creating a Django App

• Create a new app using python manage.py startapp myapp
• An app is a self-contained module that handles specific functionality
• A project can contain multiple apps, each encapsulating different aspects of functionality

Template, Model, and View

• Models: Python classes that define the structure of the database
• Views: Python functions or classes that receive and respond to web requests
• Templates: Files that describe the structure of the output (usually HTML)

Django App Structure

• A Django project can contain multiple apps, each handling separate parts of the project's functionality
• Apps are scalable, maintainable, and reusable
• Separate apps help in structuring code, making it easier to understand and modify
• Apps can be reused across different projects, making development more efficient### Django Web Apps
• A Django project is composed of multiple modules, each referred to as a Django web app.
• Each app serves as a modular component of the overall web application, handling a specific area of functionality.
• An app is essentially a Python package, containing models, views, templates, and other files related to that specific area of functionality.

Modular Approach

• The modular approach allows for independent development, testing, and maintenance of each part of the application.
• This approach also enables easy scaling of the application by adding new features or modifying existing ones without disrupting other parts of the system.

Django Project Structure

• When running django-admin startproject testproject, Django creates a directory structure with several files, including:
  • __init__.py: a Python convention for directories that should be treated as Python packages.
  • asgi.py: ASGI application configuration for handling asynchronous requests.
  • settings.py: stores Django project settings, such as database configuration, installed apps, middleware, templates, and more.
  • urls.py: declares URLs of the Django project, mapping URL patterns to Python functions (views).
  • wsgi.py: helps the Django project communicate with the web server.
  • manage.py: a command-line utility for interacting with the Django project.
  • db.sqlite3: the default SQLite database file where data is stored.

App Structure

• When creating an app within a Django project using python manage.py startapp myapp, Django generates another set of files, including:
  • models.py: defines data models (database schema) of the app.
  • views.py: handles request/response logic of the app.
  • apps.py: configures app-specific settings.
  • admin.py: registers models for management through the Django admin interface.
  • migrations/: stores migrations files for the app.
  • tests.py: writes test cases for the app.
  • urls.py (optional): organizes URLs for the app.

Next Steps

• Create an app within the Django project using python manage.py startapp myapp.
• Define a model in models.py (e.g., a Book model with fields for title, author, and published date).
• Register the model with the admin site in admin.py.
• Run migrations to apply the model's structure to the database using python manage.py makemigrations and python manage.py migrate.
• Create a superuser to access the admin panel using python manage.py createsuperuser.
• Run the development server and access the admin panel using python manage.py runserver.