Python Development Guide

Python is a very powerful language that we use for many different projects at Teracy. In this guide, we’re going to explore the Python language and some Python web frameworks.

Python should be available by default on the teracy-dev VM, so make sure you have the teracy-dev VM running by following the Getting Started guide.

Note

pyenv, virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper are already installed and available to use.

Verify that Python Works

$ vagrant ssh
$ python --version

And you should see something like this:

Python 2.7.6

Congratulations, you can do all Python related stuff now!

Learn

There are many free resources for learning Python and those listed ones below are just some of those. We should learn from easy to harder levels.

  1. Python tutorial

    Introduction about Python: https://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/index.html

  2. Python Course

    Very easy to follow: http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python

  3. Dive into Python

    Useful for middle level: http://www.diveintopython.net/toc/index.html

  4. Learn Python the hard way

    Required to work: http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/

Flask Framework

After learning Python, you should know how to use Flask for web application development.

Follow the steps below to get started.

  1. Create a virtualenv

    $ ws
$ cd personal
$ mkdir flask-app
$ cd flask-app
$ mkvirtualenv flask-app

  2. Install the Flask package

    $ pip install Flask

  3. Create hello.py under flask-app directory with the following content:

    from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route("/")
def hello():
    return "Hello World!"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app.run(host='0.0.0.0')

  4. Run the Flask web app

    $ python hello.py

    Now open http://localhost:5000 on the browser to see the web app.

Tip

Teracy introduces flask-boilerplate to speed up Flask development with best practices.

Django Framework

After learning Python, you should know how to use Django for web application development.

Follow the steps below to get started.

  1. Create a virtualenv

    $ ws
$ cd personal
$ mkvirtualenv django-app

  2. Install the Django package

    $ pip install Django

  3. Create a Django application

    $ django-admin startproject django_app

  4. Run the Django application

    $ cd django_app
$ python manage.py migrate
$ python manage.py runrver 0.0.0.0:8000

    Now open http://localhost:8000 on your browser to see the web app.

Tip

Teracy introduces django-boilerplate to speed up Django development with best practices and we follow the Django Training guide.