Deploying a Django Application

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• A Django application that is fully developed and tested.
• Access to a production server or hosting provider.
• Basic knowledge of Linux command line (if using a Linux server).
• Domain name (optional, for custom domains).

Step 1: Prepare Your Django Application

1. Set DEBUG to False: In your Django project's settings.py file, ensure that the DEBUG setting is set to False for security reasons in production.
2. Collect Static Files: Run the following command to collect static files into a single directory:
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python manage.py collectstatic

This will prepare your static assets for serving.

3. Refer to the deployment checklist do the needful
• Configure Database: Make sure your database settings (e.g., database name, username, password) in settings.py are set up correctly for your production database.
• Secure Secrets: Store sensitive information like secret keys, database credentials, and API keys as environment variables or in a secure manner.

Step 2: Choose a Hosting Provider

Select a hosting provider or server environment for your Django application. Common options include:

• Shared Hosting: Suitable for small to medium-sized websites.
• Virtual Private Server (VPS): Provides more control and resources.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Managed platforms like Heroku or PythonAnywhere.
• Dedicated Server: Offers complete control over server configuration.
• Cloud Services: Options like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure for scalability.

Step 3: Set Up the Server

Option 1: Using a Managed Hosting Platform (e.g., Heroku)

1. Sign up for an account with the hosting provider (e.g., Heroku).
2. Follow the provider's documentation to create a new Django application.
3. Deploy your code to the hosting platform using the provided tools or integrations.

Option 2: Self-Hosting on a Linux Server

• Set up a Linux server with your chosen hosting provider.
• Secure your server by configuring a firewall, setting up SSH key authentication, and keeping your server software up to date.

Step 4: Configure Your Server

1. Install Dependencies: Install necessary software packages, including a web server (e.g., Nginx or Apache) and a WSGI server (e.g., Gunicorn or uWSGI).
2. Set Up Virtual Environment: Create a virtual environment on your server and install Python and dependencies.
3. Configure Server: Configure your web server to serve your Django application, including setting up static file serving and reverse proxy to the WSGI server.
4. Set Environment Variables: Configure environment variables for sensitive information like database credentials.

Step 5: Deploy Your Django Application

1. Clone Your Code: Use Git or another version control system to clone your Django application's code onto the server.
2. Install Dependencies: Install Python dependencies using pip and the requirements.txt file:
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pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Migrate the Database: Run migrations to set up your database schema:
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python manage.py migrate

4. Collect Static Files: Collect static files on the server:
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python manage.py collectstatic

5. Start the Application: Use your chosen WSGI server to start your Django application.
6. Test: Verify that your application is running correctly by accessing it through your server's IP address or domain name.