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Justin Mitchel

This is not a Netflix clone and not even close. Why? Netflix is a complex system of engineer that no one class could ever fully cover. If I told you that you could build a Netflix clone in less than 40 hours, I would be lying to you.

Instead, this is a foundation of what a Netflix-like service could be. This foundation only matters as it serves a roadmap to understanding Django on a whole new level.

Django is the most popular web framework in the world written in Python and for good reason: Django is incredibly simple and incredibly complex.

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This is not a Netflix clone and not even close. Why? Netflix is a complex system of engineer that no one class could ever fully cover. If I told you that you could build a Netflix clone in less than 40 hours, I would be lying to you.

Instead, this is a foundation of what a Netflix-like service could be. This foundation only matters as it serves a roadmap to understanding Django on a whole new level.

Django is the most popular web framework in the world written in Python and for good reason: Django is incredibly simple and incredibly complex.

Models, Views, Forms, User Auth and Templates are fundament to Django. After completing one of my Try Django series, you'll see that creating rich web applications is, well, pretty simple.  Models map to database tables. Views essentially handle a url and render templates. Forms help validate data and templates are essentially HTML with a little programming built it.

If the paragraph above is unclear, this course is not for you.

Django's complexity comes with the layers of abstraction you can start to build within your projects. To me, these layers come from Generic Foreign Keys & Proxy Models.  The complexity on the surface might be intimating (it was for me) but after you get familiar with them you'll come to find their complexity to be less daunting and potentially, no longer complex.

The goal of this course is to introduce your to a number of concepts you may have never seen before while building the foundation for a service that could potentially grow into Netflix.

Here's some topics we'll cover:

  • Proxy Models

  • Generic Foreign Keys

  • Generic Relations

  • Automated Unit Testing

  • ManyToMany Fields vs Foreign Keys vs Generic Foreign Keys

  • Through models for ManyToMany

  • Reverse Relationships

  • Creating a Rating System (user ratings)

  • Complex Search Lookups with Q Lookups

  • Re-usuable model receiver functions

  • Custom template tag for rending a rating form

  • and much more

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started
Welcome
Walkthrough
Setup Project & Workspace
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a practical introduction to Django's capabilities, which can help beginners understand the framework's potential for building complex web applications
Explores advanced Django concepts like Generic Foreign Keys and Proxy Models, which are useful for developers looking to deepen their understanding of Django's architecture
Covers automated unit testing, which is essential for maintaining code quality and ensuring the reliability of Django applications as they grow in complexity
Teaches how to implement a rating system, which is a common feature in many web applications and can enhance user engagement and provide valuable feedback
Requires familiarity with Django fundamentals, so learners without prior experience may find the course challenging and may need to complete introductory material first
Focuses on building a specific type of application, which may limit its applicability to learners interested in other types of web development projects

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Reviews summary

Advanced django concepts with project

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation (positive) for building complex web services using advanced Django features like Proxy Models (neutral) and Generic Foreign Keys (neutral). Students appreciate the practical project approach (positive), finding it helpful for understanding how these abstract concepts apply in a real-world scenario. While many found the explanations clear and the content highly valuable (positive), some noted that the material is indeed challenging (warning) and requires a strong understanding of Django fundamentals beforehand. A few mentioned that some sections could be outdated or require extra research (warning) due to library updates.
Unit testing guidance is included.
"The inclusion of unit testing lessons is a big plus. It's great to see how to test these complex features."
"Learning how to write tests for models and views added significant value to the course."
"Appreciated the focus on testing alongside building the features."
Hands-on building reinforces concepts.
"Building the Netflix-like project foundation helped solidify the concepts. It's a great way to see these features in action."
"The practical application of the topics in the project makes the learning much more concrete."
"I appreciate the project structure; it ties everything together nicely and shows how to use these tools practically."
Deep dive into complex Django features.
"This course really shines in explaining complex topics like Generic Foreign Keys and Proxy Models. It's hard to find resources that go into this depth."
"Learned so much about ManyToMany fields with through models and Generic Foreign Keys. These advanced concepts are explained well."
"The explanation on Generic Relations and Proxy Models was fantastic and easy to follow, making sense of what seemed abstract before."
Some parts might require adjustments.
"Encountered a few versioning issues with Django and required libraries. Had to consult documentation to get some parts working."
"Some older lessons might need minor code adjustments to work with the latest Django versions."
"While the core concepts are sound, expect to troubleshoot some setup or dependency issues depending on your environment."
Not for beginners, need Django basics.
"As the description warns, this course is not for beginners. You need a solid understanding of Django fundamentals to keep up."
"Found it challenging at times, definitely requires prior experience with Django before diving into these advanced topics."
"Make sure you have completed a beginner/intermediate Django course first. This builds on that knowledge significantly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in DjangoFlix - Build a Netflix-Like Service in Django & Python with these activities:
Review Django Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of Django fundamentals to better grasp the advanced concepts covered in this course.
Browse courses on Django Models
Show steps
  • Review the official Django documentation on models, views, and templates.
  • Work through a basic Django tutorial, such as the Django tutorial on the Mozilla Developer Network.
  • Practice building simple web applications using Django.
Read 'Django for Beginners'
Gain a solid foundation in Django by working through a beginner-friendly book.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Django for Beginners'.
  • Work through the book's examples and exercises.
  • Experiment with the code and try building your own simple web applications.
Build a Simple Movie Database
Apply the concepts learned in the course by building a movie database application with features like movie listings, categories, and user ratings.
Show steps
  • Design the database schema for your movie database.
  • Implement the models, views, and templates for your application.
  • Add features like user authentication and rating functionality.
  • Deploy your application to a web server.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Write a Blog Post on Generic Foreign Keys
Deepen your understanding of generic foreign keys by explaining the concept in a blog post.
Show steps
  • Research generic foreign keys in Django.
  • Write a clear and concise explanation of the concept.
  • Include code examples to illustrate how to use generic foreign keys.
  • Publish your blog post online.
Read 'Two Scoops of Django'
Learn Django best practices to improve your code quality and project structure.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Two Scoops of Django'.
  • Read the book cover to cover, paying attention to the best practices and recommendations.
  • Apply the best practices to your Django projects.
Contribute to a Django Open Source Project
Solidify your Django skills by contributing to an open-source project.
Show steps
  • Find a Django open-source project on GitHub.
  • Identify a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.
  • Respond to feedback from the project maintainers.
Help Others on Django Forums
Reinforce your understanding by helping others with their Django questions.
Show steps
  • Find Django-related forums or Q&A sites (e.g., Stack Overflow).
  • Browse the questions and answer those you can help with.
  • Provide clear and concise explanations and code examples.

Career center

Learners who complete DjangoFlix - Build a Netflix-Like Service in Django & Python will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Python Developer
A Python developer specializes in developing applications using the Python programming language. As Django is a Python web framework, this course offers specific knowledge for Python developers. This course helps build a foundation in Django, providing practical experience in building web applications with Python. A Python developer will find the sections covering the models including proxy models, generic foreign keys, and automated unit testing particularly valuable, enhancing their understanding of building scalable applications. The course's focus on advanced Django features and best practices gives a solid foundation for Python web development.
Backend Developer
A backend developer focuses on the server-side logic and databases that power web applications. This course, with its emphasis on Django, offers practical knowledge for backend development. The course helps build a foundation in Django models, views, and forms, which are fundamental to backend development. A backend developer will find value in understanding how to create a rating system including user ratings, implement complex search lookups, and design reusable model components. The exploration of generic foreign keys and proxy models may be useful to tackle intricate data relationships, making this course a solid choice.
Web Developer
A web developer builds and maintains websites and web applications. This course, centered around the Django web framework, may be quite useful. This course helps build a foundation in Django, a popular Python web framework, which is directly applicable to web development. The course covers models, views, forms, and templates, which are essential for developing web applications. A web developer will find the sections on complex search lookups and re-usable model receiver functions to be particularly insightful, as these techniques enhance web application functionality. By understanding generic foreign keys and proxy models, a web developer can create more sophisticated and scalable web applications.
Application Developer
An application developer designs, develops, and implements software applications. This course helps build a foundation in Django, a popular Python web framework, which is directly applicable to application development. This application developer will find that the course covers models, views, forms, and templates, which are essential for developing web applications. Additionally, the sections on complex search lookups and re-usable model receiver functions would be insightful, as these techniques enhance application functionality. By understanding generic foreign keys and proxy models, an application developer can create sophisticated and scalable applications.
Full-Stack Developer
A full stack developer works on both the front-end and back-end aspects of web applications. As a comprehensive introduction to Django, this course makes itself useful in becoming a full stack developer. This course helps build a foundation in the Django framework, covering models, views, templates, and user authentication. The full stack developer will find the sections on creating complex search lookups and using custom template tags particularly useful for enhancing user interfaces. By understanding how Django models map to database tables, a full stack developer can efficiently manage data. The practical approach to building a Netflix-like service provides real-world context.
Software Engineer
A software engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains software applications. Software engineering focuses on creating robust and scalable software systems and this course may be quite useful. By using Django, this course helps build a foundation for constructing web applications, including user authentication, data modeling, and template rendering. The course covers automated unit testing, which is crucial for ensuring software quality. A software engineer will discover that the deep dive into generic foreign keys and reverse relationships enhances their ability to build sophisticated applications. Moreover, techniques for complex search lookups and custom Django admin interfaces may be useful.
Technical Lead
A technical lead manages a team of developers and provides technical guidance on projects. For a technical lead overseeing web development, this course may be useful in understanding Django in particular. Because this course helps build a foundation in Django's architecture and advanced features, a technical lead can guide their team in building scalable and maintainable web applications. The course's coverage of generic foreign keys, reverse relationships, and automated unit testing enhances the ability to make informed technical decisions. A technical lead will want to know more about complex search lookups and re-usable model receiver functions to provide effective guidance to their team.
Software Architect
A software architect designs high-level software systems, focusing on scalability, maintainability, and performance. For building web applications, the course may be useful in seeing the different ways Django can be structured. This course helps build a foundation in Django's architecture, including its models, views, and template system. A software architect can leverage this knowledge to design robust and scalable web solutions. The course's coverage of generic foreign keys, proxy models, and complex relationships enhances the ability to create flexible and efficient architectures. The practical approach to building a Netflix-like service provides real-world context.
Solutions Architect
A solutions architect designs and implements IT solutions that meet business requirements. For a solutions architect working with web applications, this course may be useful by understanding the different ways you can use Django. This course helps build a foundation in Django's capabilities, including its models, views, and template system. A solutions architect can leverage this knowledge to design robust and scalable web solutions. The course's coverage of generic foreign keys, proxy models, and complex search lookups enhances the ability to create flexible and efficient architectures. The practical approach to building a Netflix-like service provides real-world context.
Technical Project Manager
A technical project manager oversees software development projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. While not directly focused on project management, this course may be useful because it allows an understanding Django. This course helps build a foundation of Django's core concepts, the project manager can better understand the technical complexities of web development projects. The course's coverage of models, views, templates, and user authentication allows for a better grasp of the project's technical requirements. A technical project manager can find value in understanding data relationships using the admin.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer automates and streamlines the software development lifecycle, focusing on continuous integration and deployment. This course helps build a foundation for deploying Django applications, including setting up project workspaces and managing migrations. The course's coverage of automated unit testing is very valuable when using Django. In addition, a DevOps Engineer will find value in the course by understanding the Django Admin and how to customize it.
Database Administrator
A database administrator manages and maintains databases, ensuring data integrity and availability. The course, while focused on Django and web application development, may be useful due to its emphasis on models and their mapping to database tables. This course helps build a foundation in understanding how Django interacts with databases, which is essential for database administration. Understanding Django's ORM, including models, foreign keys, and many-to-many relationships, provides a higher-level perspective on database design and management. The course's introduction to query optimization and data relationships provides a strong foundation for managing database systems.
Data Engineer
A data engineer designs, builds, and manages the infrastructure for data storage and processing. While this course primarily focuses on web application development using Django, it does have applicable skills. This course helps build a foundation in understanding data modeling and management within a web application context. A data engineer can use the knowledge of Django models, foreign keys, and query optimization to enhance data storage and retrieval processes. The course's introduction to Django signals and custom managers may be helpful.
Data Scientist
A data scientist analyzes and interprets complex data to derive insights and inform business decisions. While primarily focused on web development with Django, the course may be useful in creating web applications for data visualization and reporting. This course helps build a foundation in creating web-based interfaces for data analysis tools using Django. A data scientist will find that the sections on implementing complex search lookups and user-generated ratings provide practical skills for building interactive data dashboards. The course's coverage of Django templates allows for the creation of custom visualizations.
Machine Learning Engineer
A machine learning engineer develops and deploys machine learning models and algorithms. While focused on web application development with Django, this course may be useful as it is still in Python. This course helps build a foundation in deploying machine learning models within a Django web application. A machine learning engineer will find the sections on creating user-generated ratings and implementing search functionalities helpful. By understanding Django's templating and view system, a machine learning engineer can create interfaces for users to interact with machine learning models.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in DjangoFlix - Build a Netflix-Like Service in Django & Python.
Comprehensive guide to Django best practices, covering topics such as project structure, code style, and deployment. It's a valuable resource for intermediate to advanced Django developers looking to improve their skills and build robust web applications. While not strictly necessary for this course, it provides a deeper understanding of Django's inner workings and helps you write cleaner, more maintainable code. It is commonly used by industry professionals.
Provides a clear and concise introduction to Django, covering all the essential concepts needed to build web applications. It's particularly helpful for those new to Django or web development in general. The book's step-by-step approach and practical examples make it easy to follow along and learn by doing. It serves as a great reference for understanding the fundamentals before diving into more advanced topics.

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