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Django-seminar - .kjj

Introductory Computer (University of Benin)

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SEMINAR REPORT

ON

DJANGO

WRITTEN BY:

ELOLEN OZEMOYEA GODFREY

PSC1808814

SUBMITTED TO:

THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY,

EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE (B.SC in COMPUTER SCIENCE)

APRIL 2023.

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CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that GODFREY OZEMOYEA ELOLEN carried out this seminar work with
matriculation number MAT NO: PSC1808814, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Department of
Computer Science, University of Benin, Benin city under my supervision.

_______________________ _________________

Prof. (Mrs.) S. Konyeha – Chairperson DATE

_______________________ _________________

Mr. E.C. Igodan DATE

_______________________ _________________

Mrs. I.J. Adun DATE

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APPROVAL
This seminar report written by GODFREY OZEMOYEA ELOLEN, with matriculation
number PSC1808814 in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the University of
Benin Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) degree in Computer Science, is adequate both in scope and
content and it is hereby approved for presentation.

_________________________ __________________

DR. (MRS.) A.R. USIBAIFO DATE

SEMINAR COORDINATOR

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DEDICATION
This seminar work is dedicated to God Almighty, for providence, guidance and grace in seeing
me through this study; I give Him all the glory.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................................................................... I
APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................................... II
DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................................. III
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................... IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................................. VI
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................... VII
SECTION ONE ................................................................................................................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background Study: .......................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Research Motivation: ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Research Aim and Objectives: ......................................................................................................... 1
1.4 Research Scope: .............................................................................................................................. 1
1.5 Research Significance: ..................................................................................................................... 2
SECTION TWO ............................................................................................................................................... 3
KEY FEATURES OF DJANGO........................................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Model-Template-View (MTV) architecture ..................................................................................... 3
2.2 Object-relational mapping (ORM) ................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Built-in admin interface................................................................................................................... 3
2.4 Django REST framework .................................................................................................................. 3
2.5 Security features ............................................................................................................................. 4
2.6 Scalability and performance............................................................................................................ 4
SECTION THREE ............................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 GETTING STARTED WITH DJANGO ...................................................................................................... 5
3.1.1 Setting up a development environment ...................................................................................... 5
3.1.2 Creating a new Django project ..................................................................................................... 5
3.1.2 Understanding the directory structure ........................................................................................ 6
3.1.3 Running the development server ................................................................................................ 7
3.2 CREATING A BASIC DJANGO APPLICATION .......................................................................................... 8
3.2.1 Define models .............................................................................................................................. 8
3.2.2 Create database tables ................................................................................................................. 8
3.2.3 Create views ................................................................................................................................. 9
3.2.4 Create templates .......................................................................................................................... 9

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3.2.5 Configure URLs ........................................................................................................................... 10

3.3 ADVANCED DJANGO CONCEPTS ........................................................................................................ 11
3.3.1 Authentication and authorization .............................................................................................. 11
3.3.2 Forms and validation .................................................................................................................. 11
3.3.3 Middleware ................................................................................................................................ 11
3.3.4 Caching ....................................................................................................................................... 11
3.3.6 Internationalization and localization .......................................................................................... 12
3.4 DEPLOYING A DJANGO APPLICATION ................................................................................................ 13
3.4.1 Configuring a production server ................................................................................................ 13
3.4.2 Deploying using platforms like Heroku or AWS.......................................................................... 13
3.4.3 Best practices for deployment ................................................................................................... 13
SECTION FOUR ............................................................................................................................................ 14
4.1 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 14
4.2 REFERENCE ........................................................................................................................................ 15

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to first of all thank all my lecturers for the immerse knowledge and for giving me
such a wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge for my own branch and giving me
guidelines to present a seminar report.

With gratitude I also wish to appreciate my mum, dad and siblings for their love, care, prayers,
support and sacrifice for me thus far.

Next, I would thank the author of Django for Beginners, William S. Vincent for writing such a
wonderful material. It helped me a lot in writing this report.

Finally, I am highly grateful to everyone who contributed in one way or the other to the success
of this work, may God bless you all abundantly

Greater appreciation goes to God Almighty for giving me strength to complete my report on
time.

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ABSTRACT
Django is a powerful web framework that has gained a lot of popularity over the years due to its
ease of use and rapid development capabilities. One of the key features of Django is its Model-
Template-View (MTV) architecture, which provides a clear separation of concerns between the
data models, presentation layer, and business logic. This makes it easy to manage and maintain
large web applications.

Another important feature of Django is its Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system, which
makes it easy to interact with databases without having to write SQL code. This allows
developers to focus on the application logic rather than database administration.

Django also comes with a built-in admin interface that makes it easy to manage content and data
models without having to write any code. This feature is particularly useful for non-technical
users who need to manage the content of a website.

Django also has a powerful REST framework that makes it easy to build APIs for web and
mobile applications. The REST framework provides a standard way of communicating between
different systems and makes it easy to build scalable and maintainable applications.

In terms of security, Django comes with built-in features such as cross-site scripting (XSS)
protection, cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection, and password hashing. This makes it
easy to build secure web applications without having to worry about common security
vulnerabilities.

Django is also highly scalable and performant, making it suitable for building large-scale web
applications that can handle high traffic volumes. It comes with caching mechanisms that can
improve the performance of web applications by caching frequently accessed data.

Getting started with Django is relatively straightforward. Developers can set up a development
environment quickly using tools such as virtualenv and pip. Once the development environment
is set up, creating a new Django project involves running a single command in the terminal.
Django's directory structure is well-organized and makes it easy to find and manage different
parts of the application.

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Creating a basic Django application involves defining data models, creating views, and
configuring URLs. This can be done quickly using Django's built-in command-line tools and a
few lines of code.

In conclusion, Django is a powerful web development framework that provides a wide range of
features for building web applications. Its ease of use, rapid development capabilities, and
scalability make it a popular choice among developers. With its rich set of features, Django is a
great choice for building web applications of all sizes and complexity.

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SECTION ONE
INTRODUCTION

Django is a high-level Python web framework used for rapid development of web applications. It
provides a lot of built-in features such as an ORM, template system, middleware, authentication,
and much more. The aim of this report is to provide an overview of Django framework and its
features, as well as to explore the benefits and limitations of using Django in web application
development.
1.1 Background Study:

Django was first released in 2005 by Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison, and since then it has
gained significant popularity among web developers worldwide. It is an open-source framework
and has been widely used in various industries, such as e-commerce, social media, and news
websites.
1.2 Research Motivation:

The motivation behind this report is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Django
framework and its capabilities to those who are new to web development or are looking for an
alternative to other web development frameworks. Additionally, this report aims to explore the
potential benefits and limitations of using Django in web application development.
1.3 Research Aim and Objectives:

The aim of this report is to provide an overview of Django framework and its features, as well as
to explore the benefits and limitations of using Django in web application development. The
objectives of this report are as follows:
• To introduce the concept of Django and its key features
• To compare Django with other web development frameworks
• To explore the advantages and disadvantages of using Django in web application
development
• To provide a practical example of using Django in a web application project.
1.4 Research Scope:

This report will focus on the basic concepts and features of Django framework, including its
Model-View-Template (MVT) architecture, built-in ORM, authentication system, middleware,
and template engine. It will also provide a comparison between Django and other web
development frameworks such as Flask, Ruby on Rails, and ASP.NET. However, this report will
not cover advanced topics such as Django REST framework, testing, deployment, and scaling.

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1.5 Research Significance:

This report is significant as it provides an overview of Django framework and its features, as
well as compares it with other web development frameworks. It will be helpful for developers
who are new to Django or are looking for an alternative to other web development frameworks.
Additionally, this report will provide insights into the advantages and limitations of using Django
in web application development, which will help decision-makers in choosing the right
framework for their projects.

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SECTION TWO
KEY FEATURES OF DJANGO

Django is a powerful and flexible web framework that has a number of key features that make it
a popular choice for web development. In this chapter, we will explore some of the most
important features of Django.

2.1 Model-Template-View (MTV) architecture

Django follows a Model-Template-View (MTV) architecture pattern that separates the code into
three layers: the model layer, the template layer, and the view layer. This architecture provides a
clear separation of concerns and promotes code reuse and maintainability.

The model layer defines the data structure of the application, including database schema and
relationships. The template layer is responsible for defining the user interface of the application,
and the view layer handles the logic that connects the model and template layers.

2.2 Object-relational mapping (ORM)

Django's ORM is a powerful feature that allows developers to interact with databases using
Python objects instead of SQL. This abstraction makes it easier to work with databases and
provides a more intuitive way to query and manipulate data. Django's ORM supports a variety of
database backends, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite, and provides features like
query optimization and caching.

2.3 Built-in admin interface

Django's built-in admin interface provides a powerful tool for managing data in the application.
The admin interface is customizable and can be used to manage data from any model in the
application.

The admin interface includes features like search, filtering, sorting, and pagination, and can be
extended with custom views and templates.

2.4 Django REST framework

Django REST framework is a powerful toolkit for building RESTful APIs with Django. It
provides a set of tools and conventions for building APIs, including serializers for converting

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data to and from JSON, and class-based views for handling HTTP requests. Django REST
framework also includes support for authentication and authorization, pagination, and filtering.

2.5 Security features

Django includes a number of security features out of the box, including protection against
common web attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request
forgery (CSRF). Django also provides built-in user authentication and authorization, including
support for common authentication schemes like OAuth and OpenID.

2.6 Scalability and performance

Django is designed to be scalable and performant, with support for caching, database query
optimization, and load balancing. Django's caching framework provides support for a variety of
caching backends, including memcached and Redis, and can be used to cache database queries,
template fragments, and other data. Django also includes support for database query
optimization, including tools for monitoring and profiling database queries.

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SECTION THREE
3.1 GETTING STARTED WITH DJANGO

Django is a high-level Python web framework that allows developers to build web applications
quickly and efficiently. In this section, we will cover the basic steps to get started with Django.

3.1.1 Setting up a development environment

Before you start building your Django application, you need to set up a development
environment on your machine. This typically involves installing Python, Django, and a text
editor or integrated development environment (IDE) such as PyCharm or Visual Studio Code.
You can find detailed instructions for installing Django in the official documentation.

3.1.2 Creating a new Django project

Once you have set up your development environment, you can create a new Django project using
the command-line interface (CLI). In the terminal, navigate to the directory where you want to
create your project and enter the following command:

Replace "projectname" with the name of your project. This will create a new directory with the
same name as your project and the following directory structure:

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• manage.py: a command-line utility that lets you interact with your Django project.

• projectname/: the root directory of your Django project.

• init.py: an empty file that tells Python that this directory should be considered a Python
package.

• settings.py: a file that contains the settings for your Django project, such as database
configurations, installed apps, and security settings.

• urls.py: a file that contains the URL patterns for your Django project.

• asgi.py: a file that serves the same purpose as wsgi.py but is used for Asynchronous
Server Gateway Interface (ASGI) servers.

• wsgi.py: a file that contains the configuration for the Web Server Gateway Interface
(WSGI) server, which is used to deploy Django applications to production servers.

3.1.2 Understanding the directory structure

It's important to understand the directory structure of a Django project because it will help you
organize your code and files. The manage.py file and the projectname/ directory are the most
important parts of the directory structure. The settings.py file contains the configuration settings

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for your project, including the database settings, installed apps, and middleware. The urls.py file
contains the URL patterns for your project.

3.1.3 Running the development server

To run the development server, navigate to the root directory of your project in the terminal and
enter the following command:

This will start the server at http://127.0.0.1:8000/. You can access your application by entering
this address in a web browser.

Congratulations! You have now created a new Django project and started the development
server.

In the next section, we will cover how to create a basic Django application.

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3.2 CREATING A BASIC DJANGO APPLICATION

Creating a basic Django application involves creating models, views, and templates to display
data to the user. Here are the steps involved in creating a basic Django application:

3.2.1 Define models

Models are Python classes that define the structure of the database tables. In Django, models are
defined in the models.py file. For example, if you want to create a blog application, you might
define a Post model to represent blog posts.

3.2.2 Create database tables

After defining the models, you need to create the corresponding database tables. Django provides
a command-line tool called manage.py that you can use to create the database tables. Run the
following command in the terminal:

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3.2.3 Create views

Views are Python functions that handle requests and generate responses. In Django, views are
defined in the views.py file. For example, you might define a post_list view to display a list of
blog posts.

3.2.4 Create templates

Templates are HTML files that define the structure and layout of the web pages. In Django,
templates are stored in the templates directory. For example, you might create a post_list.html
template to display the list of blog posts.

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3.2.5 Configure URLs

URLs map the incoming requests to the appropriate views. In Django, URLs are defined in the
urls.py file. For example, you might define a post_list URL that maps to the post_list view.

Once you have completed these steps, you can run the development server and access the
application in a web browser at http://localhost:8000/.

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3.3 ADVANCED DJANGO CONCEPTS

Django offers several advanced features that make it a popular choice for building complex web
applications. Here are some of the most important ones:

3.3.1 Authentication and authorization

Django comes with a robust authentication system that allows users to log in and out of your
application, manage their accounts, and reset their passwords. You can also define custom
permissions and roles to control what users can do within your application.

3.3.2 Forms and validation

Django provides a powerful form handling framework that simplifies the process of creating and
validating user input. You can create forms using built-in fields or define your own custom fields,
and Django automatically handles validation, error messages, and CSRF protection.

3.3.3 Middleware

Django's middleware framework allows you to add custom functionality to the request/response
processing pipeline. You can use middleware to add HTTP headers, cache responses, compress
content, and more.

3.3.4 Caching

Django provides a caching framework that allows you to store frequently used data in memory,
on disk, or in a distributed cache like Memcached or Redis. Caching can significantly improve
the performance of your application by reducing the number of database queries and expensive
computations.

3.3.5 Signals and hooks

Django's signals framework provides a way to trigger actions when certain events occur within
your application. You can define custom signals and receivers to handle events like object
creation, deletion, or modification.

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3.3.6 Internationalization and localization

Django has built-in support for translating your application into multiple languages and handling
localized date/time formats, numbers, and currency. You can also define custom translation
strings and use third-party translation services like Google Translate or Microsoft Translator.

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3.4 DEPLOYING A DJANGO APPLICATION

Once you've built your Django application, you need to deploy it to a production server so that it
can be accessed by users. Here are some steps to consider:

3.4.1 Configuring a production server

You need to set up a production server with a web server like Apache or Nginx, a database server
like MySQL or PostgreSQL, and any other necessary software like Redis or Memcached. You
also need to configure the server to run your Django application using WSGI (Web Server
Gateway Interface) or ASGI (Asynchronous Server Gateway Interface).

3.4.2 Deploying using platforms like Heroku or AWS

There are several cloud platforms like Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, or Google App Engine
that make it easy to deploy and scale your Django application. These platforms handle most of
the server configuration and management for you, so you can focus on developing your
application.

3.4.3 Best practices for deployment

When deploying a Django application, it's important to follow best practices to ensure its
security, performance, and reliability. Some tips include using HTTPS, setting up automatic
backups, monitoring your server logs, and using a CDN (Content Delivery Network) for static
files.

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SECTION FOUR
4.1 CONCLUSION

Django is a powerful web framework that offers a wide range of features for building complex
web applications. Its key features include the Model-Template-View (MTV) architecture, the
Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system, the built-in admin interface, the Django REST
framework, security features, and scalability and performance. To get started with Django, you
can follow these steps: set up a development environment, create a new Django project,
understand the directory structure, and run the development server. Once you've built your
application, you can deploy it to a production server using various methods like configuring a
server, using cloud platforms like Heroku, or following best practices for deployment. The future
of Django looks bright, with ongoing development and a strong community of developers and
users. To learn more about Django, you can refer to the official documentation, attend
conferences and meetups, or join online communities like forums and social media groups

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4.2 REFERENCE

The official Django documentation: https://docs.djangoproject.com/

Django for Beginners: Build websites with Python and Django by William S. Vincent

Two Scoops of Django 3.x: Best Practices for the Django Web Framework by Daniel Roy
Greenfeld and Audrey Roy Greenfeld

Django Crash Course: A Hands-On Guide to Building Websites with Python and Django by
Daniel Roy Greenfeld and Audrey Roy Greenfeld

Django Web Development with Python by Samuel Dauzon

Django Unleashed by Andrew Pinkham

Django community: https://www.djangoproject.com/community/

Django Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/django/

Django Girls: https://djangogirls.org/

Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/django

Heroku: https://www.heroku.com/

AWS Elastic Beanstalk: https://aws.amazon.com/elasticbeanstalk/

Digital Ocean: https://www.digitalocean.com/

PythonAnywhere: https://www.pythonanywhere.com/

Google Cloud Platform: https://cloud.google.com/

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