Mike Cantelon

As an example I've written a Django app using a design pattern that is likely to be familiar to those coming from a PHP background.

This simple example allows the creation, updating, and deletion of contacts.

Project Setup

Start a project named 'myproject' and, within the project, an application named 'contacts'.

$ django-admin.py startproject myproject
$ cd myproject
$ python manage.py startapp contacts
$ mkdir html

On day 2 of the Vancouver Django Jam I got a chance to meet the Django web framework's lead developer Adrian Holovaty and get the scoop on the latest developments in Django (including the generation of end-user interfaces to data!).

Revamped Form Engine

Django's biggest improvement (currently available only via Subversion) is the revamping of the form engine. While the previous form engine required tedious additions to templates (to deal with validation errors and the like), the new incarnation does it all for you, creating all form HTML and allowing form definitions to be generated from models. This is a big deal as it will greatly improve the speed of Django development.

Yesterday afternoon, when saner souls were watching the SuperBowl, Paul Prescod and I presented introductions to the Django web framework at the kickoff of Vancouver's first public Django-centric event: Vancouver Django Jam. My presentation "Basic CRUD in Django" (which is designed to show neophytes the hard, but conceptually familiar, way of doing things) can be downloaded here as a PDF, here in Apple Keynote format, or here online.

I migrated to OS X partly because of the huge hassles involved with using open source software on Windows, but also because of its looks. Apple's cold elegance is definitely preferable to Microsoft's slick, fake smile.

Ubuntu, however, is likely to be my new home. After having Ubuntu and the 3D wonders of Beryl demonstrated to me by Vancouver open source evangelist Scott Nelson, I was blown away. Linux is now not only free and functional, but is fun and looks great.

Here are a number of web design resources that I either regularly use or wish I would remember to use or try out.

CSS

• 40 Free CSS Layouts
• CSS "Frames"
• CSS Pull Quotes
• CSS Drop Shadow
• CSS Drop Caps
• Rounded Corners Without Images
  

Free Geek, an innovative and ambitious Portland project to share skills and hardware, was recently broken into. Help them out by donating so they can get back into gear.

Looking for a quick way to boost your traffic? Based on the work of Graywolf, I've created a Javascript that will render a social bookmarking widget with icons for submitting content to Digg, Reddit, etc. Download it here.

Interest in the Django web framework in Vancouver seems to be growing. The Vancouver Python and Zope Users Group held a meeting last Tuesday where Paul Prescod, Dethe Elza, and I gave presentations on various facets of Django development. In addition, the Django Book is attracting interest for its collaborative proofing model.

How not to spend a Saturday night: creating a Django theme for Apple Keynote.

If you anticipate making a presentation about the Django web framework, consider using my theme (3 MB ZIP archive) to show your audience you mean bidniz.

The overall look was based on Django desktop graphics.