Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. In this article, we’ll build a fully functional blog website step by step.

1. Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before we start, ensure you have Python 3.12+ installed, pip, and a code editor like VS Code or PyCharm.

Step 1.1: Create a virtual environment

# Create a project folder
mkdir django_blog_project
cd django_blog_project

# Create a virtual environment
python -m venv venv

# Activate the environment
# Windows
venv\Scripts\activate
# macOS/Linux
source venv/bin/activate
    

Step 1.2: Install Django

pip install django

# Check installation
django-admin --version
    

2. Creating the Django Project

django-admin startproject mysite .
    

Run the server:

python manage.py runserver
    

Visit http://127.0.0.1:8000 to see the Django welcome page.

3. Creating a Django App

python manage.py startapp blog
    

Add 'blog' to INSTALLED_APPS in mysite/settings.py:

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    ...
    'blog',
]
    

4. Creating the Blog Model

from django.db import models
from django.urls import reverse
from django.utils.text import slugify

class BlogPost(models.Model):
    title = models.CharField(max_length=200)
    slug = models.SlugField(max_length=200, unique=True, blank=True)
    content = models.TextField()
    created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
    updated_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)

    class Meta:
        ordering = ['-created_at']

    def __str__(self):
        return self.title

    def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
        if not self.slug:
            self.slug = slugify(self.title)
        super().save(*args, **kwargs)

    def get_absolute_url(self):
        return reverse('blog_detail', kwargs={'slug': self.slug})
    

5. Admin Interface

from django.contrib import admin
from .models import BlogPost

@admin.register(BlogPost)
class BlogPostAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
    list_display = ('title', 'created_at', 'updated_at')
    prepopulated_fields = {'slug': ('title',)}
    

Create superuser:

python manage.py createsuperuser
    

6. Creating Views and URLs

from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404
from .models import BlogPost

def blog_list(request):
    posts = BlogPost.objects.all()
    return render(request, 'blog/blog_list.html', {'posts': posts})

def blog_detail(request, slug):
    post = get_object_or_404(BlogPost, slug=slug)
    return render(request, 'blog/blog_detail.html', {'post': post})
    

7. Templates

blog_list.html:

{% raw %}
{% extends 'base.html' %}
{% block content %}
Blog Posts

    {% for post in posts %}
        
{{ post.title }} ({{ post.created_at|date:"F d, Y" }})
    {% empty %}
        
No posts yet.
    {% endfor %}

{% endblock %}
{% endraw %}
    

blog_detail.html:

{% raw %}
{% extends 'base.html' %}
{% block content %}

    
{{ post.title }}
    
Published on {{ post.created_at|date:"F d, Y" }}
    
{{ post.content|safe|linebreaks }}

← Back to Blog List
{% endblock %}
{% endraw %}
    

8. Base Template

    
    
    


    {% raw %}{% block content %}{% endblock %}{% endraw %}


    

9. Running the Website

Start the server:

python manage.py runserver
    

Visit:

• Blog list
• Blog detail

10. Optional Enhancements

• Add user authentication to allow posting by users
• Add pagination for blog lists
• Add comments system using Django forms
• Style the blog with Bootstrap 5 or TailwindCSS
• Add SEO meta tags for better search results

This tutorial provides a fully working Django blog website that you can extend into a portfolio, company site, or even an e-commerce platform.