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Django has an endless list of advantages. However, Django applications can take up a lot of time to make. There are various packages available that can reduce the time it takes to complete a project. It’s definitely worth your time to look into what packages are available, and which ones are suitable for your specific Django application. We will take a look at 10 of the most common and popular packages in this post. But first, let’s go over what is the difference between a package and a module.
Difference Between Packages and Modules:
A package is a collection of modules. A module is a single file containing Python code, whilst a package contains a number of different modules. Additionally, packages contain the __init__.py file. This is because the package can be easily distinguished from a directory containing various other Python scripts.
Now that we know why packages are important and how they are different from modules, let’s look at 10 packages you should be using for your Django application:
1: Django Rest Framework
It can be difficult to write the API by yourself. The Django Rest Framework takes care of that issue for you, and provides auto-generated documentation. This package also creates REST API endpoints for your model. Building RESTful APIs for your Django application can be done quickly with this package.
2: Django Debug Toolbar
The Django Debug Tool bar is an invaluable package that can be used to improve the performance of your Django application. This is one of the most effective methods to improve performance in the backend, particularly when handling databases. It provides you with information about database queries, such as query count and query speed. Moreover, it gives the CPU load speed for each page, making it easier to see where you can further optimise your Django application. The Django Debug Toolbar is a must-have extension, as improving the performance of your Django application can make a huge difference.
3: Django-extensions
The django-extensions package contains various custom extensions for Django applications. Some of which include management commands, additional database fields, admin extension and others. Debugger tags are also included, which allows you to debug Django templates easily. Django Extensions also comes with model extensions. This provides a set of Abstract Base Classes for models that implement commonly used patterns.
4: Celery
Celery is a task-distributed queue that can help manage your time. Tasks that are time-intensive can be offloaded to Celery instead, decreasing the performance load of your Django application. The user can experience lower response times, and have a better experience overall. Costly operations can be completed asynchronously in the background with Celery.
Offloading work from your Django application to distributed processes that run independently is definitely a useful tool of Celery. In addition, Celery can execute task execution at a specific time. In some cases, this is done as a recurring event.
A distributed task queue has a wide variety of uses in Django applications. If you’ve integrated machine learning into your Django application, Celery can be used to complete the operations in the background. Other applications such as text and image process can have drastic effects on performance if you carry them out in your Django application. Using Celery to leverage performance by carrying out these tasks in a distributed task queue will ensure your Django application is working well.
5: Django-storages
This package contains a collection of custom storage backends for Django in a single library. Each storage backend has its own unique settings that you’ll need to add to your settings.py file. The custom storage backends that are included in this package are as follows:
- Amazon S3
- Apache Libcloud
- Azure Storage
- Digital Ocean
- Dropbox
- FTP
- Google Cloud Storage
- STFP
6: Sentry SDK
Sentry SDK acts as a crash reporting system that automatically reports errors and exceptions, along with identifying any potential performance issues in your Django application. This package also automatically enables integrations that fit the Python modules that you have installed.
Using Sentry SDK with Django will also automatically enable DjangoIntegration() without any extra input from you. When your Django application is working, this package is a great way to get notified of any errors or logs about non-normal events. This will allow you to run effective maintenance on your Django application if an issue arises. It makes it much easier for you to identify an error as you will be notified immediately.
7: Easy-thumbnails
The easy-thumbnails package allows you to create dynamic thumbnails based on the source image alone. If an image is missing a thumbnail, or was recently updated, this package will allow you to create a thumbnail for those images. Define the image configuration in the settings file, this gives you access to images in templates and views.
8: Django-allauth
Django-allauth provides local and social authentication. Alongside authentication, it provides a convenient user management and registration system for your Django application. Multiple authentication schemes and strategies for account verification are also provided. Other features include email address management, email address verification flow and forgot password flow. This package comes with a huge number of features, and is one of the best verification packages you can have for your Django application.
9: Django-filter
Some aspects of view code can be quite tedious to write. Django-filter makes it easier to deal with that issue by allowing you to filter down a queryset based on a model’s field. That means you can provide the parameters, and find the queryset that you were looking for. This package works with all supported versions of Python and Django, so you won’t have to worry about having a specific version.
10: Django-import-export
If you have bulk files that you need to export via Excel, JSON or CSV, then this is a package you’ll want to use. Django-import-export comes with a range of features, such as the ability to provide filters for exporting and importing data. Other features include: preview import changes, admin integration for exporting, and export data respecting admin filters.
Summary:
Django applications can be time-consuming to build. Packages can make the process much quicker and easier, and provide a variety of convenient features. This post included 10 of the most common and useful packages that you’ll certainly want to consider using in your Django application. Although the value of each package may vary depending on the Django application, there are definitely packages here that you’ll find value from, no matter the project.
Need advice with your Django application? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Raw Jam team!
Written and researched by Saleem Maroof.