How to Install Django 5 on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Python

Django is a Python framework that requires Python to be installed. If you haven’t done so yet, use the command below to install Python.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3.12 python3.12-venv

After installing, you can check the Python version using the command below.

python3 -V

Install Django 5

To install Django 5 on Ubuntu 24.04, you’ll create a special folder for it called a virtual environment. This keeps your Django setup separate from other programs. Then, you’ll use a tool called ‘pip’ to download and install Django 5 right into that environment.

Within your home directory, run the command below to create a Python environment and download Django 5 packages.

python3 -m venv --system-site-packages ~/django5

Then, activate the environment.

source ~/django5/bin/activate

Install Django 5.

pip3 install 'Django>=5,<6'

You can check the Django version after installing using the command below.

django-admin --version

deactivate

Create your project

Once Django 5 is installed and its environment is active, you can create your first Django project. You’ll use a command to start a new project, then go into its folder, and run another command to set up the basic database. This prepares your project structure.

Activate the Django 5 environment.

source ~/django5/bin/activate

Create an app folder called myproject.

django-admin startproject myproject

Change into the myproject folder.

cd myproject

Configure a database. Default is SQLite.

python manage.py migrate

Create an admin user.

python manage.py createsuperuser

When prompted, enter a username, password, and email address.

Username (leave blank to use 'richard'):      
Email address: richard@example.com
Password: 
Password (again): 
Superuser created successfully.

You can now start the project using the command below.

python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000

http://localhost:8000

To access the Django from another machine, edit the networking settings.

vi myproject/settings.py

Then, add this line

# SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
DEBUG = True

ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']

Save and exit.

Within your project folder, you can start creating your apps.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

In summary, installing Django on Ubuntu 24.04 using a Python virtual environment is a straightforward process that provides a clean workspace for your projects. Here are the key takeaways:

• Django Framework: Enables rapid development and follows the DRY principle for efficient coding.
• Virtual Environment: Keeps your project’s dependencies isolated, avoiding conflicts with global Python installations.
• Installation Steps: 💿 Installing Python and setting up Django in a virtual environment is simple and manageable.
• Creating Your First App: You can quickly start developing your first app with the provided commands and configurations.
• Accessing Your Project: Adjust network settings to access your Django application from other machines.

This guide helps you start developing with Django, a web framework that provides powerful features for your web applications. Using Django enables faster and more efficient project creation.