Get ready to embark on an exciting adventure where we’ll start from the very basics and gradually build our way to creating full-featured web applications and RESTful APIs. In this first installment of our series, we will cover the very basics of web development and how Django finds its place, and gets the top position among Python web frameworks. Here is what we will cover.

Table of content

1. How the Web Works
2. Why Django? Can’t Python Handle Web Development Alone?
3. Django’s Features and Internal Workings.
4. Why Django is a Perfect Choice for Beginners and Pro.
5. Summary

Lesson 1: How the Web Works

Before diving into Django, let’s take a step back and explore the web—the place where magic happens every time you click, type, or swipe.

The HTTP Architecture

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the web. Here’s how it works in a nutshell:

• Client: This is you (or more precisely, your web browser or mobile app). When you enter a URL, you’re essentially asking for a resource (like a webpage) hosted on a server.
• Server: This is where the requested resource lives. Think of it as a library where books (data) are stored.
• Request and Response: When you type "www.codessnipets.com," your browser sends an HTTP request to the server. The server processes the request and sends back an HTTP response—usually an HTML page. This back-and-forth is the essence of the web.

Think of HTTP as the waiter at your favorite restaurant. You (the client) place an order (request), and the waiter (server) brings your food (response). Sometimes, you get what you want. Other times, you’re told, "404—we’re out of stock, yatha nsima!"

The Client-Server Architecture

The web operates on a client-server model:

• The client (browser or app) initiates requests and displays the results to users.
• The server handles those requests, processes data, and sends back responses.

In between, there’s often a middleman like a database to fetch, store, or manage data. Django’s beauty lies in managing all these components seamlessly.

Lesson 2: Why Django? Can’t Python Handle Web Development Alone?

Python is an amazing programming language. It’s versatile, beginner-friendly, and, frankly, quite charming (if code could be charming). Python alone, however, doesn’t provide the full toolkit for web development.

The Do-It-Yourself Approach

Sure, Python comes with built-in libraries like http.server and cgi for basic web functionality. You could also stitch together third-party packages like Flask for routing, SQLAlchemy for database interactions, and Jinja2 for templates. While this modular approach works, it’s a lot like assembling a TV SET without instructions—you’ll get it done, but it won’t be easy.

Enter Django: The All-in-One Framework

Django is Python’s gift to web developers. It’s a high-level web framework that provides everything you need to build web applications out of the box. Here’s why Django is such a big deal:

• "Batteries Included": Django lives by Python’s philosophy of providing all necessary tools within the framework.
• Security: Django takes care of common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
• Scalability: Whether it’s a small blog or a high-traffic site like Instagram, Django can handle it.
• Rapid Development: With Django’s tools, you can go from idea to working prototype in hours.

Lesson 3: Django’s Features and Internal Workings

Let’s dive into what makes Django tick. But, as a rule of thumb, "Know how python module system works, and at the root of that is the knowledge of how classes work in python". You need to understand how to create modules for classes. These different classes make it easy to built a structure, that may eventually evolve to a mature structure/arctecture like Django

The Django Architecture

Django follows the Model-Template-View (MTV) pattern:

Just to be clear, a pattern, like you would say, "This is how we , africans, or indians, or canadians, treat or handle a marriage process". An established system of doing things, and in software developement, we say an established standard of building systems based on what is involved and the required peices or blocks that make a web application work. A web application requires an interface that users should interact with, a database that stores the data they interact with, and if they need some calculations or business logic, there needs to be a set of scripts that handles that logic. Instead of leaving all that to a developer, django has all that handled and packages them into the following "LEGAL BLOCKS IF YOU COULD SAY":

• Model: Manages your data and its interactions with the database. Think of it as the librarian who organizes and categorizes all your information.
• Template: Handles the presentation layer (HTML and front-end code). This is like the packaging for a gift—it’s how the data looks when it’s delivered to the user.
• View: Acts as the middleman between the model and template, processing requests and returning responses. It’s the brain of the operation, deciding what data to fetch and how to display it.

This separation ensures your code stays clean, maintainable, and scalable.

Request-Response Flow in Django

Django’s internal request-response cycle is straightforward yet powerful:

1. A user makes a request by entering a URL.
2. The URL dispatcher matches the request to a specific view.
3. The view processes the request, interacts with models (if needed), and fetches data from the database.
4. The view passes the data to a template for rendering.
5. The template generates an HTML page, which is sent back to the user as a response.

Think of Django as a well-oiled machine where every cog (models, views, templates) works in harmony to deliver seamless results.

Key Features of Django

1. Admin Interface: A built-in tool to manage your application data effortlessly.
2. ORM (Object-Relational Mapper): Write Python code to interact with your database instead of raw SQL queries.
3. Template Engine: Use Django’s templates to create dynamic, data-driven web pages.
4. Authentication System: Includes user login, registration, and permissions management out of the box.
5. URL Routing: Map URLs to specific views without needing external libraries.
6. Built-in Security: Django shields you from common vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection.

Why Django Stands Out

Django doesn’t just make web development easier; it makes it more fun. Its "batteries-included" philosophy ensures you have everything you need, from handling forms and sessions to working with APIs and middleware.

Lesson 4: Why Django is a Perfect Choice for Beginners and Pros

For Beginners:

• Ease of Use: Django’s clean syntax and extensive documentation make it beginner-friendly.
• Structure: The MTV pattern teaches good coding practices.

For Professionals:

• Versatility: Build blogs, e-commerce platforms, social media apps, or APIs.
• Community: Django has a vast, active community to help you.
• Enterprise-Ready: Scalable enough to power sites like Pinterest and Udemy.