Python Web Development with Django

Description

Using the simple, robust, Python-based Django framework, you can build powerful Web solutions with remarkably few lines of code. In Python Web Development with Django(R), three experienced Django and Python developers cover all the techniques, tools, and concepts you need to make the most of Django 1.0, including all the major features of the new release. The authors teach Django through in-depth explanations, plus provide extensive sample code supported with images and line-by-line explanations. You'll discover how Django leverages Python's development speed and flexibility to help you solve a wide spectrum of Web development problems and learn Django best practices covered nowhere else. You'll build your first Django application in just minutes and deepen your real-world skills through start-to-finish application projects including Simple Web log (blog) Online photo gallery Simple content management system Ajax-powered live blogger Online source code sharing/syntax highlighting tool How to run your Django applications on the Google App Engine This complete guide starts by introducing Python, Django, and Web development concepts, then dives into the Django framework, providing a deep understanding of its major components (models, views, templates), and how they come together to form complete Web applications. After a discussion of four independent working Django applications, coverage turns to advanced topics, such as caching, extending the template system, syndication, admin customization, and testing. Valuable reference appendices cover using the command-line, installing and configuring Django, development tools, exploring existing Django applications, the Google App Engine, and how to get more involved with the Django community. Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started Chapter 1: Practical Python for Django 7 Chapter 2: Django for the Impatient: Building a Blog 57 Chapter 3: Starting Out 77 Part II: Django in Depth Chapter 4: Defining and Using Models 89 Chapter 5: URLs, HTTP Mechanisms, and Views 117 Chapter 6: Templates and Form Processing 135 Part III: Django Applications by Example Chapter 7: Photo Gallery 159 Chapter 8: Content Management System 181 Chapter 9: Liveblog 205 Chapter 10: Pastebin 221 Part IV: Advanced Django Techniques and Features Chapter 11: Advanced Django Programming 235 Chapter 12: Advanced Django Deployment 261 Part V: Appendices Appendix A: Command Line Basics 285 Appendix B: Installing and Running Django 295 Appendix C: Tools for Practical Django Development 313 Appendix D: Finding, Evaluating, and Using Django Applications 321 Appendix E: Django on the Google App Engine 325 Appendix F: Getting Involved in the Django Project 337 Index 339 Colophon 375 Table of Contents Introduction Where Web Frameworks Come From A Better Way We’re Not in Kansas Anymore Web Development Is Better with Python and Django I: Getting Started 1 Practical Python for Django Python Skills Are Django Skills Getting Started: Python’s Interactive Interpreter Python Basics Python Standard Types Flow Control Exception Handling Files Functions Object-Oriented Programming Regular Expressions Common Gotchas Coding Style (PEP 8 and Beyond) Summary 2 Django for the Impatient: Building a Blog Creating the Project Running the Development Server Creating the Blog Application Designing Your Model Setting Up the Database Setting Up the Automatic admin Application Trying Out the admin Making Your Blog’s Public Side Finishing Touches Summary 3 Starting Out Dynamic Web Site Basics Understanding Models, Views, and Templates Overall Django Architecture Core Philosophies of Django Summary II: Django in Depth 4 Defining and Using Models Defining Models Using Models Summary 5 URLs, HTTP Mechanisms, and Views URLs Modeling HTTP: Requests, Responses, and Middleware Views/Logic Summary 6 Templates and Form Processing Templates Forms Summary III: Django Applications by Example 7 Photo Gallery The Model Preparing for File Uploads Installing PIL Testing ImageField Building Our Custom File Field Using ThumbnailImageField Setting Up DRY URLs The Item App’s URL Layout Tying It All Together with Templates Summary 8 Content Management System What’s a CMS? The Un-CMS: Flatpages Beyond Flatpages: A Simple Custom CMS Possible Enhancements Summary 9 Liveblog What Exactly Is Ajax? Planning the Application Laying Out the Application Putting the Ajax In Summary 10 Pastebin Defining the Model Creating the Templates Designing the URLs Trying It Out Limiting Number of Recent Pastes Displayed Syntax Highlighting Cleanup Via Cron Job Summary IV: Advanced Django Techniques and Features 11 Advanced Django Programming Customizing the Admin Using Syndication Generating Downloadable Files Enhancing Django’s ORM with Custom Managers Extending the Template System Summary 12 Advanced Django Deployment Writing Utility Scripts Customizing the Django Codebase Itself Caching Testing Django Applications Summary V: Appendices A: Command Line Basics Putting the “Command” in “Command Line” Options and Arguments Pipes and Redirection Environment Variables The Path Summary B: Installing and Running Django Python Django Web Server SQL Database Summary C: Tools for Practical Django Development Version Control Project Management Software Text Editors D: Finding, Evaluating, and Using Django Applications Where to Look for Applications How to Evaluate Applications How to Use Applications Sharing Your Own Application E: Django on the Google App Engine Why the App Engine Matters Pure Google App Engine Applications Limitations of the App Engine Framework Google App Engine Helper for Django Integrating the App Engine Creating a New Django Application That Runs on App Engine Summary Online Resources F: Getting Involved in the Django Project Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X–Z Colophon