Build a Django content management system, blog, and social networking site with James Bennett as he introduces version 1.1 of the popular Django framework.

You’ll work through the development of each project, implementing and running the applications while learning new features along the way.

Web frameworks are playing a major role in the creation of today’s most compelling web applications, because they automate many of the tedious tasks, allowing developers to instead focus on providing users with creative and powerful features. Python developers have been particularly fortunate in this area, having been able to take advantage of Django, a very popular open-source web framework whose stated goal is to "make it easier to build better web applications more quickly with less code."

Practical Django Projects introduces this popular framework by way of a series of real–world projects. Readers follow along with the development of each project, implementing and running each application while learning new features along the way. This edition is updated for Django 1.1 and includes an all-new chapter covering practical development tools and techniques you'll be able to apply to your own development workflow.

What you’ll learn

• Capitalize upon the well–defined and stable framework architecture of Django 1.1 to build web applications faster than ever before
• Learn by doing by working through the creation of three real–world projects, including a content management system, blog, and social networking site
• Build user–friendly web sites with well–structured URLs, session tracking, and syndication options
• Let Django handle tedious tasks such as database interaction while you focus on building compelling applications

Who this book is for

Web developers seeking to use the powerful Django framework to build powerful web sites.

Table of Contents

1. Welcome to Django
2. Your First Django Site: A Simple CMS
3. Customizing the Simple CMS
4. A Django-Powered Weblog
5. Expanding the Weblog
6. Templates for the Weblog
7. Finishing the Weblog
8. A Social Code-Sharing Site
9. Form Processing in the Code-Sharing Application
10. Finishing the Code-Sharing Applications
11. Practical Development Techniques
12. Writing Reusable Django Applications