In less than a decade, the art of web development has experienced many reforms. The community of expert web developers created frameworks like Django to improve their efficiency in creating professional web pages. However, what makes a web developer stand out is applying the relevant technical skills in their craft regardless of the framework they use.
Practicing with Django projects is an effective way to learn and strengthen your skills in this field. Through projects, you will gain experience and build solutions to real problems. You can use these projects to develop a strong portfolio to show to employers.
5 Skills That Django Projects Can Help You Practice
With Django, developers can create websites and applications with a nice interface at a faster rate. There is no need to design every component from scratch. Below are some in-demand skills Django projects can help you develop. Because Django is written in Python, Django projects also help you build real-world Python skills.
- System Programming. System programming is at the core of building web applications. You should be able to write a program that allows a user to interact with the system through computer hardware. An operating system is an example of system programming.
- Graphical Interface Creation. A developer should be able to create an interface that enables a user to give commands to the system by manipulating elements like scroll bars, icons, cursors, and tabs.
- Web Scripts Development. Web scripts development is the ability to write code that can process web files and documents. With Python, scripting is a lot simpler. The developer has access to Python libraries that provide standard web components and source code.
- Rapid Prototyping. Since time is always a factor to consider in web development, you should be able to convert concepts into code and prototypes within a short time. Among other benefits, rapid development allows you to test for functionality and reduces risks and development costs.
- Mathematical and Scientific Calculations Programming. You should have a firm understanding of the relationship between mathematical principles and computer science. This background knowledge boosts your general programming skills and abilities.
Best Django Project Ideas for Beginners
The experience you need in this field can be found in individual projects you complete. If you want to build your foundational skills in Django, then consider the following project ideas for beginners. You’ll learn basic Django skills and how to deal with common web development problems.
Login System
- Django Skills Practiced: System Programming, Graphical Interface Creation
A login system is needed in commercial websites and applications. This simple project requires you to create a basic login system that allows users to enter login details to access their accounts. You can start with a basic template, then make specific changes to customize it as you gain new skills.
Email Sender
- Django Skills Practiced: System Programming, Web Scripts Development
For this project, you will create an email sender that automatically sends emails to recipients. It is an important feature that most organizations use for correspondence. You might create a lot of email senders throughout your career, so this simple project is highly recommended.
A Safe for Passwords
- Django Skills Practiced: Web Scripts Development, Mathematical and Scientific Calculations Programming
This project requires you to create a safe or a website to save your passwords. You will apply an encryption algorithm that ensures that the passwords are not loaded directly on the websites but are encoded to limit password theft.
Portfolio Site
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Web Scripts Development
Here, you will create a portfolio site to upload your projects. The site should accommodate a couple of projects and be visually pleasing. With basic lines of code, you can develop a portfolio using Django. You can use this site to show your skills to employers.
A To-Do App
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Web Scripts Development
Many people use a task management app to increase productivity. For this project, you will develop a to-do app that allows users to create a list of tasks they want to complete. The app should enable users to check and delete tasks once they are completed.
Best Intermediate Django Project Ideas
The following are a few intermediate projects you can try. The projects at this level are a bit more technical and require more background knowledge. You are expected to have gained a mastery of some technical skills before taking any of them on.
Notes Application
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Rapid Prototyping
For this project, you will develop an application that allows users to make, store, and access notes. You can also integrate features that the user can customize to enhance the user experience. You can use this fun project as a way to practice your design skills and make the app visually appealing.
Blog Application
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Web Scripts Development, Rapid Prototyping
WIth this exciting project you will create a blog about any topic of interest. The blog should include texts and pictures. The content should be well-structured and organized. You can also incorporate a comment section to increase engagement on each blog post. Finally, the app should have a user-friendly interface that should be easy to navigate.
Dictionary Application
- Django Skills Practiced: Rapid Prototyping
For this project, you will design a dictionary app that allows users to input a word and find the meaning of the word. To enhance the functionality, you can incorporate examples in a sentence as well as synonyms and antonyms. An application programming interface (API) will be very useful in this project.
Resume Builder
- Django Skills Practiced: System Programming, Rapid Prototyping
The idea behind this application is that users can create a resume by simply inputting personal details and other information in a form. The form serves as the base template for the resume. For this project, you should maintain a minimalist design and a simple layout.
Online School
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Web Scripts Development, Rapid Prototyping
This online school project is an application or a website that works as a multi-user system. The teachers should be able to send assignments while school students submit work via the same platform. The application you build should facilitate learning in a virtual environment.
Advanced Django Project Ideas
These project ideas are complex. They are meant for advanced developers and involve building applications or professional websites from scratch. These projects tend to take a longer time to complete, but can help you prepare for a career as a web developer.
Chatbots
- Django Skills Practiced: Rapid Prototyping, Mathematical and Scientific Calculations Programming
Chatbots are bots or computer programs designed to have conversations with humans. They are built with technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence. They are used in most commercial applications and websites. When executed properly, chatbots can increase engagement, communicate special offers, deal with subscription cancellations, and more.
E-commerce Website
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Web Scripts Development, Rapid Prototyping
Creating an e-commerce website is quite complex because it requires a lot of different functions. Your website should have a section that displays product details and pictures. There should be a payment gateway for processing payments and regulating payment options. Pay attention to the appearance of the website and use a simple layout.
News Application
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Mathematical and Scientific Calculations Programming
For this project, you will create a news application that employs web crawlers to provide news on various topics to the users. This project will require some knowledge in data fusion because you have to filter the collated news from different sources to provide an accurate result. In addition, you should ensure the app is visually appealing.
Video Calling Application
- Django Skills Practiced: Mathematical and Scientific Calculations Programming, Rapid Prototyping
You will develop an application that enables users to chat via a video call. For this project, you will need to understand how video streaming and transmission of video works. The major contributor to the success of this project is your ability to combine computer and communication technology.
Social Networking Application
- Django Skills Practiced: Graphical Interface Creation, Web Scripts Development, Rapid Prototyping
For this project, you are to take inspiration from a social media app like Instagram. Your application can allow users to follow each other, like and share posts, make comments, and upload media files. Software for a social networking app should have good visuals and provide adequate security for users’ details.
Django Starter Project Templates
While it is a healthy practice to learn the entirety of software development, you can use templates for your projects to help you get started. They come in various styles and formats and offer a wide range of benefits. Apart from saving time, templates also help you to develop an application if you have a creative block.
- Django Dashboard Template. This template by AppSeed is a ready-to-use dashboard with special features for data visualization and management. It comes with a dark-themed user and admin interface and elegant typography.
- Ran Django Template. The Ran Django template can be used for a general website or a blog. It has an admin interface and control features for library management. It also comes with a simple design and layout.
- Argon Dashboard Django Template. This template has many components that are editable and can be modified individually. You can save time in developing your website because of the various elements it helps to incorporate.
- Datta Able Django Template. If you need a base template that helps you manage your data, this template might be useful. It has a modern user interface with an admin panel and is supported through Github.
- Soft UI Dashboard Django. This modern dashboard template has a sleek design with bold texts and many interactive elements that you can customize to suit your design concept. It can be easily modified to create classic websites and web applications.
Next Steps: Start Organizing Your Django Portfolio
After you have invested time to practice with these projects, the next step is to start developing your portfolio. Your portfolio is proof of your expertise and can help you get hired. To get started, consider the following tips for compiling your digital portfolio.
Be Simple But Strategic
Keep the projects in your portfolio minimal so that you don’t overwhelm the recruiter. Show that you can apply your skills in a variety of ways, but don’t include every project you’ve ever created. You should try to include projects related to the kind of job you are applying for.
Showcase Versatility
Although you want to be strategic with the projects on your portfolio, you should also try to showcase versatility. While you might want to attract recruiters from a certain niche, consider including projects that cut across other sectors. It will help to reflect that you are a skilled developer and that you will deliver regardless of the niche of the brand or organization.
Be Original
A common pitfall for most developers is that they depend largely on templates for their designs. When creating your portfolio, upload projects that are original. While templates are helpful, you should be able to develop a website from scratch. It increases your hireability as it gives you visibility with improved recommendations.
Django Projects FAQ
No, you are not required to use the templates. Selecting a template is a decision that is dependent on preference. Depending on the project, you can use a template to help you get started. You can challenge yourself by creating a project without a template.
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Django is a popular framework built with Python that gives developers room to create secure websites quickly. With Django, you don’t have to build all components from scratch because they are provided in various Python Libraries with an organized file structure.
It could take a few months to a year to gain mastery of Django and build compelling web applications. The time it takes to learn Django depends on your background knowledge and experience with programming.
The best Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is based on preference, but some options include PyCharm and Syder, which are reliable IDEs for Python. These also work for Django as it is based on Python.
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