Project 3 - Web App Hosting

Goals

• Build a simple Django application
• Configure a web server at Python Anywhere
• Deploy a web app at Python Anywhere
• Serve static media

Steps

Get Ready

• Create a running application (week3/Superhero)
  • Build a new Superhero app
  • My Superhero App
• Sign up for an account at Python Anywhere

Setup your web server

• 1 - Create a virtual environment at Python Anywhere
• 2 - Install Django
• 3 - Git Clone
• 4 - Create Web App
• 5 - Debug and Test

Step 1 - Create a virtual environment at Python Anywhere

• Create an isolated python environment
  • mkvirtualenv --python=/usr/bin/python3.8 .venv
• Activate the environment
  • source .venv/bin/activate

Step 2 - Install Django in the environment

• Activate the virtual environment
• Install and test Django
  • pip install django
  • pip list
  • which django-admin (Will list a path for django-admin)

Run Terminal Window

• Select "Consoles, New console, Bash"
  • pwd
  • cd
  • ls -al

Step 3 - Clone your git repository

• Visit your Github Repo
• Clone your repo (this is mine)
  • git clone https://github.com/Mark-Seaman/BACS350.git

Step 4 - Create Web App

Create Web App

• Visit your main page
• Login to Python Anywhere account
• Bookmark this page on your bookmark toolbar
• Select Web tab in top menu

Configure the Code Settings

• Your Python Anywhere account supports one free Web App
• Apps on free accounts will shut down after every three months
• Click on "Run until 3 months from today" button
• This is not a problem for when you are actively developing code

Configure Web App

• Find your source code
• Modify your code for Python Anywhere
  • Create WSGI connection
  • Allow host at "markseaman.pythonanywhere.com"
• Setup static server

Configure the Code Startup

• Edit WSGI Python File

WSGI.py - Web Service Gateway Interface

/var/www/markseaman_pythonanywhere_com_wsgi.py

# +++++++++++ DJANGO +++++++++++
# To use your own django app use code like this:
import os
import sys

## assuming your django settings file is at '/home/markseaman/BACS350/week3/Superhero/settings.py'
## and your manage.py is is at '/home/markseaman/BACS350/week3/Superhero/manage.py'
path = '/home/markseaman/BACS350/week3/Superhero'
if path not in sys.path:
    sys.path.append(path)

os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = 'config.settings'

## then:
from django.core.wsgi import get_wsgi_application
application = get_wsgi_application()

Python Anywhere Static Files

Python Anywhere Database

• Start with MySQL, switch to PostGres if needed

Step 5 - Debug and Test

Startup the Server

• Run the server http://markseaman.pythonanywhere.com/
• Button labeled "Bounce the server" on the above screen shot
• Browse to http://markseaman.pythonanywhere.com/

Debug and Test

• Browse to http://markseaman.pythonanywhere.com/ for Mark's Site
• Browse to http://YOUR_USER.pythonanywhere.com/ for Your Site
• Debug your application code

Read the Log

• Error Log

Register your server

• Make sure this address is set in Sensei
• Example: http://markseaman.pythonanywhere.com/

Requirements

• Your page must be available at http://YOUR_USER.pythonanywhere.com/
• It must contain info about superheroes
• You must load images with a static server