How to Set Up Django and Install It – A Complete Student Guide

1. Install Python (Required for Django)

Before installing Django, ensure that Python is installed on your system because Django is a Python-based framework.

Installation on Windows, macOS, or Linux:

• Go to the official Python website and download the latest version of Python.
• Follow the installation instructions for your respective operating system.

After installation, verify that Python is installed by opening a terminal or command prompt and typing:

python --version

2. Install pip (Python Package Installer)

Pip is the package installer for Python, which makes installing Django easier.

To check if pip is installed, run:
 

pip --version

If it's not installed, you can install pip by downloading the get-pip.py file from the official site, then run:
 

python get-pip.py

3. Set Up a Virtual Environment (Optional but Recommended)

It’s always recommended to use a virtual environment for Python projects to isolate dependencies.

Create a virtual environment by running the following command in the desired directory:

python -m venv myenv

Activate the virtual environment:

On Windows:

myenv\Scripts\activate

On macOS/Linux:

source myenv/bin/activate

When activated, your terminal or command prompt should show the virtual environment name (e.g., myenv).

4. Install Django

Once Python and pip are set up, you can easily install Django in the virtual environment using pip.

Run the following command in the terminal:
 

pip install django

To confirm the installation, you can check the version of Django by typing:
 

django-admin --version

5. Create a Django Project

Now that Django is installed, create a new Django project.

Run the following command to create a new project:
 

django-admin startproject myproject

This will create a folder named myproject with the basic structure of a Django project.

6. Start the Django Development Server

To start the Django development server and test if everything is working, navigate into the myproject directory:
 

cd myproject

Then, run:

python manage.py runserver

This will start the Django development server. By default, the server will be running on http://127.0.0.1:8000/.

Open your browser and visit the URL http://127.0.0.1:8000/ – you should see the Django welcome page.

Additional Django Setup Steps for Students

7. Create a Django App

Once the project is up and running, you can create a new app within your project. An app is where the actual functionality of the Django project resides.

To create a new app, use the following command:
 

python manage.py startapp myapp

8. Update Project Settings

You need to add the app to your project’s settings. Open the settings.py file located in myproject/myproject/settings.py and find the INSTALLED_APPS list. Add your app to the list like this:

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    # other default apps
    'myapp',
]

9. Database Setup

By default, Django uses SQLite as the database. You don’t need to configure anything for SQLite unless you want to use another database like PostgreSQL or MySQL.

To set up the database, run:
 

python manage.py migrate

10. Create Superuser (Admin Access)

To access the Django admin panel, you need to create a superuser.

Run:
 

python manage.py createsuperuser

Follow the instructions to set a username, email, and password.

After this, you can access the Django admin panel by visiting http://127.0.0.1:8000/admin/ and logging in with your superuser credentials.

Conclusion and Next Steps for Students

• Now that Django is successfully set up, students can start building their web applications.
• The first step will be to create models, views, and templates for their app.
• They should also explore Django’s built-in tools such as the admin interface, URL routing, and form handling.

By following this guide, students will have a solid foundation for building more complex Django applications.

Note: It's important to refer to Django’s official documentation and other resources as you continue developing your projects, as it will help in understanding advanced topics such as authentication, user management, and deployment.

Summary:

• Install Python and pip to get started.
• Create a virtual environment for project isolation.
• Install Django and check the version.
• Create a new project and app to begin development.
• Run the Django server to test the setup.
• Create a superuser to access the admin interface.

With this setup and guide, students can start working on Django-based projects with ease!