Django requires Python, so the first step is installing a compatible Python version. Download it from python.org. During installation on Windows, ensure "Add python.exe to PATH" is selected. On macOS, proceed with the default installer.

Verify the installation:

python --version
# or on some macOS systems
python3 --version

A version number indicates successful installation.

Using a Virtual Environment (Recommended)

Isolate project dependencies using Python’s built-in venv module. This avoids conflicts between projects requiring different Django versions.

Create a virtual environment in your project directory:

python -m venv myenv

Replace myenv with your preferred environment name.

Activate the Environment

• macOS/Linux:

  source myenv/bin/activate
  

• Windows:

  myenv\Scripts\activate
  

Once activated, your terminal prompt will show the environment name.

Daectivate

Exit the virtual environment anytime with:

deactivate

Install Django

With the virtual environment active, install Django via pip:

pip install django
# On systems where pip defaults to Python 2, use:
pip3 install django

To install a specific version:

pip install django==4.1

Confirm the installation:

django-admin --version

List installed packages:

pip list

Create a New Project

Generate a new Django project:

django-admin startproject mysite

This creates a mysite directory with the initial project structure.

Run the Developmetn Server

Navigate into the project folder and start the server:

cd mysite
python manage.py runserver

By default, the server runs at http://127.0.0.1:8000/. To use a different port:

python manage.py runserver 9000