Django Tutorial for Beginners Where to Begin in 2026

# Create a virtual environment
python -m venv venv

# Activate it
# macOS / Linux
source venv/bin/activate
# Windows
venv\Scripts\activate

# Install Django
pip install django

# Check the version
python -m django --version

# Create a new project
django-admin startproject mysite
cd mysite

# Run the development server
python manage.py runserver

# Open http://127.0.0.1:8000/
# You should see the Django welcome page

# Project structure:
# mysite/
#   manage.py
#   mysite/
#     settings.py
#     urls.py
#     wsgi.py
#     asgi.py

# blog/models.py
from django.db import models

class Post(models.Model):
    title = models.CharField(max_length=200)
    slug = models.SlugField(unique=True)
    body = models.TextField()
    created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.title

# blog/views.py
from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404
from .models import Post

def post_list(request):
    posts = Post.objects.all().order_by("-created_at")
    return render(request, "blog/post_list.html", {"posts": posts})

def post_detail(request, slug):
    post = get_object_or_404(Post, slug=slug)
    return render(request, "blog/post_detail.html", {"post": post})

# blog/urls.py
from django.urls import path
from . import views

urlpatterns = [
    path("", views.post_list, name="post_list"),
    path("<slug:slug>/", views.post_detail, name="post_detail"),
]

<!-- blog/templates/blog/post_list.html -->
{% extends "base.html" %}

{% block content %}
  <h1>Blog</h1>
  <ul>
    {% for post in posts %}
      <li>
        <a href="{% url 'post_detail' post.slug %}">
          {{ post.title }}
        </a>
      </li>
    {% empty %}
      <li>No posts yet.</li>
    {% endfor %}
  </ul>
{% endblock %}

# settings/base.py
import os
from pathlib import Path

BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get("DJANGO_SECRET_KEY", "change-me")
DEBUG = False
ALLOWED_HOSTS = os.environ.get("DJANGO_ALLOWED_HOSTS", "").split(",")

DATABASES = {
    "default": {
        "ENGINE": "django.db.backends.postgresql",
        "NAME": os.environ.get("DB_NAME"),
        "USER": os.environ.get("DB_USER"),
        "PASSWORD": os.environ.get("DB_PASSWORD"),
        "HOST": os.environ.get("DB_HOST", "localhost"),
        "PORT": os.environ.get("DB_PORT", "5432"),
    }
}

# Before deploying, run:
python manage.py check --deploy
python manage.py collectstatic
python manage.py migrate

# Production runner example:
# gunicorn mysite.wsgi:application --bind 0.0.0.0:8000

# Common deployment targets:
# - Render / Railway / Fly.io (fastest to start)
# - A VPS with Nginx + Gunicorn + PostgreSQL
# - Docker + a managed database

# blog/tests.py
from django.test import TestCase
from .models import Post

class PostModelTest(TestCase):
    def test_str_returns_title(self):
        post = Post.objects.create(
            title="Hello",
            slug="hello",
            body="First post",
        )
        self.assertEqual(str(post), "Hello")

    def test_slug_is_unique(self):
        Post.objects.create(title="A", slug="a", body="x")
        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
            Post.objects.create(title="B", slug="a", body="y")

Django 30-Day Roadmap:

Days 1-7: Python foundation
- Functions, lists, dicts, classes
- Virtual environments and pip
- Small command-line scripts

Days 8-14: Django basics
- Project and app structure
- Models, migrations, admin
- Views, URLs, templates

Days 15-21: Build a CRUD app
- Forms and validation
- Authentication
- Basic styling

Days 22-30: Deploy
- Production settings
- Static files and database
- Deploy and test live

First Django Project Checklist:

☐ Virtual environment created
☐ Django installed and project created
☐ App added and registered in settings
☐ Model defined and migrated
☐ Admin registered and can add records
☐ Views written and URLs mapped
☐ Templates created and extended from base
☐ Forms handle validation and errors
☐ Authentication (login/logout) working
☐ Tests written for at least one model and view
☐ Static files collected and deployed
☐ App live on a public URL

Weekly Review:

☐ Can I explain what my model does?
☐ Can I build a new view without copying code?
☐ Can I debug a template error on my own?
☐ Did I commit my code to GitHub this week?
☐ Did I deploy or update the live app?
☐ What was the hardest concept this week?

If you cannot answer "yes" to the first four,
slow down and revisit the basics.