How to move a django project from local to the droplet

Heya,

Moving a Django project to a new server while maintaining the existing configuration can be done without much hassle, but you’ll need to follow the steps diligently to ensure you don’t run into issues.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for moving your Django project to a DigitalOcean droplet that has the One-Click Django app:

1. Backup Everything: Before starting, backup everything. You can use the Snapshot feature: https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/images/snapshots/

2. Preparation:

   • If your Django project uses a virtual environment (which it ideally should), make sure to have a requirements.txt file with all the dependencies listed.

pip freeze > requirements.txt

3. Transfer Your Project:

• Use scp or rsync to transfer your Django project to the DigitalOcean droplet.

scp -r /path/to/your/django/project root@your_droplet_ip:/path/to/desired/location/

4. Setup the Environment:

• SSH into your DigitalOcean droplet.
• Navigate to the directory where you uploaded your Django project.
• If you are using a virtual environment, create one and activate it.

python3 -m venv myenv
source myenv/bin/activate

• Install the necessary dependencies using:

pip install -r requirements.txt

5. Database Configuration:

   • If you are using a database other than SQLite, you’ll need to set it up on the droplet. This might include installing the database software, creating a new database, user, granting permissions, etc.

   • If you’re using SQLite, simply transfer the SQLite file. However, remember that SQLite is not recommended for production.

   • Transfer your database data. For databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL, you can use tools like pg_dump or mysqldump to create a backup, then restore it on the droplet.

6. Update Django Settings:

   • Ensure the DEBUG setting is set to False for production.
   • Update the ALLOWED_HOSTS setting to include your droplet’s IP address or domain name.
   • Make sure your DATABASES setting in settings.py is updated with the new database details if you’re not using SQLite.

7. Web Server Configuration:

   • The One-Click Django app from DigitalOcean is likely configured with a sample project. You’ll need to update the configurations (like Nginx and Gunicorn) to point to your project instead.
   • Update paths, directory names, etc., in the configuration files to match your project’s structure.

8. Run Migrations:

   • It’s a good practice to ensure all migrations are applied:

python manage.py migrate

9. Static and Media Files:

• Ensure static files are properly collected and served:

python manage.py collectstatic

10. Finalize:

-   Restart all the necessary services (e.g., Nginx, Gunicorn).
-   Ensure firewall settings are allowing traffic on the necessary ports (like 80 and 443).

11. Testing:

-   Once everything is set up, test your application thoroughly to ensure it works as expected. This includes checking pages, forms, admin interfaces, and other functionalities.

12. Secure Your Droplet: - Lastly, make sure to secure your droplet. This includes setting up a firewall, disabling root login, setting up SSH key authentication, and regularly updating your server.

This guide provides a general idea of the steps to be followed. Depending on your application’s complexity and the specific services you use, there might be additional steps or specific nuances to handle.