If you’re new to Django and eager to build your first project, you’re at the right place. This guide will walk you through the essential steps, from installing Python to setting up a Django project named “DataSagar.” Follow along to start your Django journey!

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1. Install Python

Download Python

• Visit the official Python website: python.org.
• Hover your mouse over the Downloads menu and select the latest version of Python for your operating system (e.g., Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• Download and run the installer.

Install Python

• During installation, make sure to check the box “Add Python to PATH” before clicking Install Now.
• Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Verify Python Installation

• Open your terminal or command prompt.
• Type the following command and press Enter:python --versionIf Python is installed correctly, you will see the installed version (e.g., Python 3.10.8).

2. Create Your First Django Project

Create a Project Directory

• Open the command prompt and navigate to the C:/ drive:cd C:/
• Create a folder named django-project:mkdir django-project cd django-project

Set Up a Virtual Environment

A virtual environment isolates your project dependencies.

• Create a virtual environment:python -m venv env
• Activate the virtual environment:
  • On Windows:env\Scripts\activate
    • On macOS/Linux:source env/bin/activate
• You will notice your terminal prompt changes, indicating the environment is active.

Install Django

• Install Django using pip:pip install django
• Verify the installation:django-admin --version

3. Create the “DataSagar” Project

• Inside the C:/django-project folder, create your Django project named datasagar:django-admin startproject datasagar
• Navigate into the datasagar folder:cd datasagar

4. Understanding the Files and Folders in datasagar

After creating the datasagar project, you will see the following files and folders:

Folder and File Structure

C:/django-project/datasagar/
├── datasagar/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── asgi.py
│   ├── settings.py
│   ├── urls.py
│   ├── wsgi.py
├── manage.py

It’s very essential you know the meaning of each Files and Folders

• datasagar/: This is the main project folder containing core project files.
  • __init__.py: An empty file that indicates this folder is a Python package.
  • asgi.py: Used for deploying the application using ASGI (Asynchronous Server Gateway Interface).
  • settings.py: Contains all the configuration for your Django project (e.g., database settings, installed apps).
  • urls.py: The URL configuration file where you define routes for your project.
  • wsgi.py: Used for deploying the application using WSGI (Web Server Gateway Interface).
• manage.py: A command-line utility for interacting with your project (e.g., running the development server, migrations).

5. Create Additional Folders: media, static, and templates

To organize your project effectively, you need the following folders:

Step 1: Create the Folders

• Inside the datasagar folder, create the folders manually or use the following commands:mkdir media mkdir static mkdir templates

Step 2: Understand Their Purpose

• media/:
  • Used to store user-uploaded files (e.g., profile pictures, documents).
  • During development, you need to configure MEDIA_URL and MEDIA_ROOT in settings.py.
• static/:
  • Contains static files (e.g., CSS, JavaScript, images) used across your project.
  • You need to configure STATIC_URL and STATICFILES_DIRS in settings.py.
• templates/:
  • Stores HTML templates for your project.
  • You need to configure TEMPLATES in settings.py to point to this folder.

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6. Run Your Django Project

• Start the development server:python manage.py runserver
• Open your browser and go to http://127.0.0.1:8000/ to see the default Django welcome page.
  • You can also specify port number in case if PORT 8000 is used by another project or application like python manage.py runserver 4444

Congratulations! You have successfully set up your first Django project. 🎉 For more information, please follow our Learn Django from The Beginning Series.