Django & React Web App Tutorial - Authentication, Databases, Deployment & More...

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a full-stack web application using Django for the backend and React for the frontend. We will cover authentication with JWT tokens, database management, and deployment processes. This guide is perfect for developers looking to expand their skills in Python and JavaScript.

Step 1: Setting Up the Backend

1. Install Django:

   • Ensure you have Python installed on your machine.
   • Install Django using pip:

     pip install django
     

2. Create a New Django Project:

   • Run the following command:

     django-admin startproject myproject
     

3. Navigate to Project Directory:

   • Change into the project directory:

     cd myproject
     

4. Start the Django Server:

   • Use this command to start the server:

     python manage.py runserver
     

Step 2: Configuring Django Settings

• Open settings.py file in your Django project.
• Modify the following settings:
  • Allowed Hosts:

    ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']
    

  • CORS Headers: Add CORS headers to allow cross-origin requests.

Step 3: Understanding JWT Tokens

• JWT (JSON Web Token) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties.
• It allows you to securely transmit information as a JSON object.

Step 4: Creating Registration View

1. Create a New App:

   • Inside your project, create a new app for authentication:

     python manage.py startapp auth_app
     

2. Set Up User Registration:

   • In views.py, create a registration function that handles user data and saves it to the database.

Step 5: Connecting Authentication Routes

• Use Django's URL routing to connect your registration and login views to specific URLs in urls.py.

Step 6: Creating Custom Models

• Define custom models in models.py for your application, such as user profiles or notes.

Step 7: Writing CRUD Views

• Implement Create, Read, Update, and Delete functionalities for your models in views.py.

Step 8: Setting Up the Frontend

1. Install React:

   • Use Create React App to bootstrap your frontend:

     npx create-react-app myfrontend
     

2. Organize Frontend Structure:

   • Set up folder structure for components, pages, and services.

3. Install Axios:

   • Axios will be used to make HTTP requests to your Django backend:

     npm install axios
     

Step 9: Writing Protected Routes

• Use React Router to create protected routes that require authentication for access.

Step 10: Building Navigation and Pages

• Set up navigation components and create the necessary pages for your application.

Step 11: Handling Forms

1. Create Generic Forms:

   • Build reusable form components for login and registration.

2. Add Styles:

   • Style your forms using CSS or a framework such as Bootstrap.

Step 12: Connecting Frontend to Backend

• Ensure your frontend can communicate with the backend by configuring Axios to point to the correct API endpoints.

Step 13: Deployment Preparation

• Prepare your application for deployment by configuring your database settings and ensuring all dependencies are installed.

Step 14: Deploying the Application

1. Deploy the Backend:

   • Use a platform like Heroku or DigitalOcean to deploy your Django app.

2. Deploy the Frontend:

   • Similarly, deploy your React app on platforms like Vercel or Netlify.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have learned how to set up a full-stack web application using Django and React, including user authentication and deployment. For further exploration, consider customizing your application with additional features or exploring advanced topics such as state management in React. You can find the completed project on GitHub for reference and inspiration.