Introduction to Python and Django

Python is a scripting programming language that is suitable for many different types of applications. Python comes with an extensive set of libraries, supporting system programming, GUI programming, client- and server-side internet programming, and database programming, among others. Python also integrates well with other programming languages and tools, such as C, C++, and Java. Django is a web framework for Python that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. Similar to Ruby on Rails, Django follows the ""Don't Repeat Yourself"" (DRY) principle and provides the web developer with a faithful implementation of the Model-View Controller paradigm. Among Django's main features are database mappings, a complete and automatically generated administration framework, generation of RSS and Atom feeds, and even support for backend caching systems. This course is designed to teach experienced programmers about Python and Django. No experience with either Python or Django is necessary for this course, though a basic familiarity with building web applications will be helpful. The coverage of Python includes a comprehensive treatment of the language constructs, enabling an experienced programmer to write applications in Python. The course also covers advanced aspects of Python, such as interfacing with the file system, interprocess communication, client-side scripting, server-side scripting, and working with databases. The coverage of Django includes typical web applications issues, such as interacting with a database, handling user inputs and sessions, and generating dynamic content. The course features an in-depth discussion of the major Django components: models, views, and templates.