Best Free Django Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn Django but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. Instructor-led courses can be expensive, and with so many options available, you may wonder which program provides the best value and whether a class or certificate program will prove to have long-term value. Since Django is a Python web framework, and Python is a free and open-source programming language, you can find many free Python and Django resources to help you get started. These free resources help beginners get the hang of this exciting web framework.

Read on to learn more about the different free resources and tutorials available to help you learn Django. 

What is Django?

Django is a popular, open-source Python web framework used to rapidly, efficiently, and securely develop websites and web applications. Django began in 2003 as a way for developers Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison to quickly build Lawrence Journal-World’s multiple news sites, constantly churning out new content for various communities. Since the public first gained access to Django in 2005, developers worldwide have made use of this free framework and contributed to its advancement. Today, Django improvements are managed by the nonprofit Django Software Foundation.

Django streamlines the web development process by emphasizing reusable components. These components eliminate the need for developers to manually enter the same code repeatedly. The time Django saves developers empowers web development teams to increase scalability, meet deadlines, and build multiple websites and web applications in quick succession.

Read more about what Django is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Django?

Wondering what you can do with Django? Django has numerous use cases for web development, data science, and more. Django can build all sorts of websites, including a Content Management System (CMS), news site, social media platform, and more. 

Python objects called models allow Django web applications to query and manage data. Django’s simple query API allows the associated database to be searched, enabling complex statements. 

Django’s template systems allow developers to define an output document’s structure. It delivers content in nearly any format, including RSS feeds, HTML, XML, and JSON. Django supports its native templating system, the Jinja2 Python library out of the box, and can also be modified to support other systems. 

Other things you can do with Django include: 

• Collecting user data with HTML forms
• Manage a user permission and authentication system
• Create an administration site
• Serialize data

How to Install Python and Django

Django is a free and open-source Python web framework, so you can install everything you need at no cost. Open-source frameworks are free to access, share, and modify. Developers from around the world discuss Django, make suggestions for improvement, and contribute to Django’s advancement through the Django Project.

You can install and use Django for free. However, publishing the website you build will require the use of a web-hosting service like WordPress. WordPress offers a no-cost level of use that allows you to host your website for free for as long as you wish. To unlock additional features, you will need to subscribe to one of WordPress’s hosting plans. WordPress and other web-hosting and web-building platforms typically allow a free trial period to play with available tools, browse the site, and determine which plan fits your needs.

When you are ready to download Django, start by either updating or installing Python on your computer. Once you have done that, install Apache and mod_wsgi. You will use these tools to manage Django via a production site. 

You will also need to run a database server such as MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, or PostgreSQL in order to access Django’s database API functionality. Once you have done this, you can either install an official release using pip, a distribution-specific package, or a development version of Django. 

Types of Free Resources Available

Once you have Django installed, you are ready to begin learning. This section will highlight the types of free resources available so you can choose the ones that best fit your learning style and needs. 

Documentation

The Django Project provides free documentation, including tutorials, topic guides, reference guides, and how-to guides. These resources will benefit those who retain information through reading. The helpful “Getting Started” section guides you through installing Django, writing your first Django app, writing reusable apps, and writing your first patch for Django. This section also recommends what you should read next. The Django Project site allows visitors to quickly progress through its Django documentation with helpful links and organized navigation. 

Videos

Free videos for learning Django might include Youtube videos, introductions, entire classes, and recorded webinars you can watch on demand. Videos allow you to rewatch sections, pause lessons, and follow along with exercises. This benefits visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Videos also allow you to learn Django remotely, so you create your own schedule. Bookmarking a video, or downloading it if you can, allows you to reference it whenever you wish. 

Django is a complex web framework and requires patience to learn. Video players that allow different playback speeds let you slow lessons down. You can also use timestamps to navigate to the sections of a longer video you wish to rewatch. 

Before learning Django, you must have a solid understanding of Python programming basics. Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Python Fundamentals video can help you get started. 

Other free resources include on-demand videos you can access through a free trial, although these will only be free for the duration of the trial. 

Tips to Succeed When Learning Django Online

To make the most of free Django learning resources, first determine the following: 

• What do you hope to gain by learning Django? Define your goals.
• What learning method best suits you?
• How much time can you commit to learning Django each day/week?

You can roadmap your Django training journey by clearly defining your goals, choosing resources that cater to your learning style, and using self-discipline to practice Django daily or weekly at regular intervals.

Learn Django with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Learning Django not only requires learning the principles and applications of this framework but applying those concepts to real-world, hands-on projects. In-person and live online Django classes provide the opportunity to put theory into practice. Courses led by an instructor also grant you direct access to an expert that can help you overcome obstacles, answer your questions, and provide mentorship as you develop your Django skills.

You can learn Django with Noble Desktop’s hands-on training options like the Software Engineering Bootcamp, Python Developer Certificate, the Python Django Development course, and other Python classes and bootcamps. 

The Software Engineering and Python Developer certificate programs teach Django as part of a broader curriculum. The Software Engineering Certificate prepares students to become Full Stack Developers or Software Engineers with sections dedicated to front end development, JavaScript development, and Python development with Django. The Python Developer Certificate teaches beginners to use Django, Django REST, Git, SQL, and more. 

Students already familiar with Python but wishing for a deeper dive into Django can enroll in the Python Django Development course. This class covers the fundamentals of Django and how to use Django REST, which is used to build web APIs.

Noble’s small class sizes ensure you receive personal feedback from your instructor. Courses include free retakes and offer flexible payment plans so you can finance your new career without paying the full tuition upfront. Certificate courses also include one-on-one mentorship and the creation of professional portfolios to help you find a job in your new field.

Key Insights

• Django is a free and open-source Python web framework. 
• You can install Django at no cost.
• Free Django training resources include documentation and videos.
• Videos benefit visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.
• To make the most of free Django training resources, you should define your goals, choose resources that align with your learning style, and commit to practicing Django regularly.