This is the code repository for Django for Beginners, written by William Vincent. It contains all the supporting project files necessary to work through the book from start to finish.

Django for Beginners is a comprehensive guide to building modern Python web applications with Django. The book proceeds step-by-step through seven increasingly complex apps, covering Django fundamentals--models, views, URLs, templates--and more advanced topics such as APIs, user authentication, testing, deployment, forms, permissions, security, and performance. You'll learn how to solve common problems, implement best practices, and leverage Django's powerful third-party package ecosystem.

After reading this book, you will have a solid understanding of how Django works and the ability to build real-world, advanced web applications in a short amount of time.

This book requires Python 3.11+ and Django 4.2.

The book covers a wide range of web development and Django topics across five different projects:

• Initial Set Up (chapter 1):

  • Properly configure a Windows or macOS computer for Django development
  • Introduction to the Command Line and basic Shell commands
  • Correctly install Python 3.11
  • Guide to Python virtual environments
  • How to install Django to the latest version (4.2)
  • Text editor bonus configurations for improved workflow
  • First Django project
  • Install and configure Git for use throughout the book

• Hello World Application (chapter 2):

  • Comprehensive overview of how websites work under-the-hood
  • Introduction to web frameworks
  • (MVC) Model-View-Controller vs (MVT) Model-View-Template
  • Create an app with views and URLs
  • Learn how to create a requirements.txt file and store code on GitHub

• Pages Application (chapter 3):

  • Build views, URLs, and template files
  • Explore Class-Based-Views
  • Learn how to extend templates, using a base file
  • Add robust tests for all new functionality
  • Deployment checklist to switch from local development to production
  • Deploy the website via Fly.io

• Message Board Application (chapters 4-5):

  • models...

• Blog Application (chapters 6-9):

  • Implement authentication using the Django authentication framework

• Newspaper Application (chapters 10-17):

• 4.0 version repo
• 3.2 version repo
• 3.1 version repo
• 3.0 version repo