Why cookiecutter-django is Essential for Your Next Django Project
Introduction
Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It is widely used for building robust and scalable web applications. However, setting up a new Django project can be time-consuming and error-prone. This is where cookiecutter-django comes in. It is a project template for Django that helps you kickstart your project with best practices and a well-structured setup.
What is cookiecutter-django?
cookiecutter-django is a project template for Django, created using the Cookiecutter tool. It provides a standardized project structure and includes many useful features and integrations out of the box. Key benefits include:
- Pre-configured settings for different environments
- Built-in support for popular tools and libraries
- Consistent project layout
Streamlined Project Setup
Setting up a new Django project manually involves creating directories, configuring settings, and installing dependencies. cookiecutter-django automates this process, allowing you to start coding immediately. By answering a few prompts, you can generate a fully functional Django project tailored to your needs.
Consistency and Best Practices
cookiecutter-django ensures that your project follows Django best practices from the start. It enforces a consistent project structure, making it easier for team members to understand and navigate the codebase. This consistency also helps in maintaining the project over time.
Customization and Flexibility
One of the strengths of cookiecutter-django is its flexibility. The template is highly customizable, allowing you to choose options that fit your project requirements. Whether you need Docker support, a specific database, or integration with third-party services, cookiecutter-django can be configured to include these features.
A simple example of a Django project created with cookiecutter can be seen below. A description of each of the template options can be found in the project’s documentation here.
Cloning into 'cookiecutter-django'...
remote: Counting objects: 550, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (310/310), done.
remote: Total 550 (delta 283), reused 479 (delta 222)
Receiving objects: 100% (550/550), 127.66 KiB | 58 KiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (283/283), done.
project_name [My Awesome Project]: My First Django Project
project_slug [my_first_django_project]:
description [Behold My Awesome Project!]:
author_name [Daniel Roy Greenfeld]: John Smith
domain_name [example.com]: myhost.geocities.net
email [daniel-greenfeld@example.com]: jsmith@geocities.net
version [0.1.0]: 0.0.1
Select open_source_license:
1 - MIT
2 - BSD
3 - GPLv3
4 - Apache Software License 2.0
5 - Not open source
Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 [1]: 1
Select username_type:
1 - username
2 - email
Choose from 1, 2 [1]: 1
timezone [UTC]: America/Los_Angeles
windows [n]: n
Select an editor to use. The choices are:
1 - None
2 - PyCharm
3 - VS Code
Choose from 1, 2, 3 [1]: 1
use_docker [n]: n
Select postgresql_version:
1 - 16
2 - 15
3 - 14
4 - 13
5 - 12
Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 [1]: 1
Select cloud_provider:
1 - AWS
2 - GCP
3 - None
Choose from 1, 2, 3 [1]: 1
Select mail_service:
1 - Mailgun
2 - Amazon SES
3 - Mailjet
4 - Mandrill
5 - Postmark
6 - Sendgrid
7 - Brevo (formerly SendinBlue)
8 - SparkPost
9 - Other SMTP
Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 [1]: 1
use_async [n]: n
use_drf [n]: y
Select frontend_pipeline:
1 - None
2 - Django Compressor
3 - Gulp
4 - Webpack
Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4 [1]: 1
use_celery [n]: y
use_mailpit [n]: n
use_sentry [n]: y
use_whitenoise [n]: n
use_heroku [n]: y
Select ci_tool:
1 - None
2 - Travis
3 - Gitlab
4 - Github
Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4 [1]: 4
keep_local_envs_in_vcs [y]: y
debug [n]: nSQLite Database Caveat
The project generated by the cookiecutter-django template is based on the use of PostgreSQL for your database backend. Many of us would use a SQLite database for local development and then migrate the project to a PostgreSQL database when you are ready to deploy it to managed environments. If using SQLite you will hit error django.db.utils.OperationalError: no such table: django_site_id_seq when you first run the migration scripts. This is because PostgreSQL and SQLite handle auto-incrementing fields differently.
The workaround for the problem can be seen in an issue opened by Dr. Adrienne Stilp seen here and in this blog entry from Christian Stade-Schuldt. Unfortunately, the project maintainers have made the decision to only support PostgreSQL going forward. Hope this helps anyone that also uses SQLite for the local development sandbox.
Time-Saving Benefits
By automating the initial setup, cookiecutter-django saves you valuable time. Instead of spending hours configuring your project, you can focus on writing code and building features. This efficiency is especially beneficial for teams working on tight deadlines.
Built-in Tools and Integrations
cookiecutter-django comes with a variety of built-in tools and integrations that enhance your development workflow. Some of these include:
- Docker for containerization
- Celery for asynchronous task processing
- Django REST Framework for building APIs
- Whitenoise for serving static files
These tools are pre-configured and ready to use, reducing the effort required to integrate them into your project. A simplified list of features can be found on the project’s README page, but a better understanding of what .
Community and Support
cookiecutter-django has an active community of contributors and users. This means you can find plenty of resources, tutorials, and support to help you get the most out of the template. The community also contributes to the continuous improvement of the template, ensuring it stays up-to-date with the latest best practices.
Conclusion
In summary, cookiecutter-django is an essential tool for any Django developer. It simplifies project setup, enforces best practices, and includes a wealth of built-in features and integrations. By using cookiecutter-django, you can save time, ensure consistency, and focus on building great applications. Consider using cookiecutter-django for your next Django project to experience these benefits firsthand.
