Find the best Django jobs

What does a Django developer do?

Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development with a clean, pragmatic design. Django is completely open-source, and its primary goal is to ease the creation of complex, database-driven websites. A Django developer will use Django to create websites or to maintain, update, and fix existing websites running on Django.

Django developers use the tools and structure provided by Django to quickly build websites. This means that Django developers need to be familiar not only with Python programming concepts but also with web development concepts. A Django developer’s responsibility is to apply the framework provided by Django to build websites that meet client requirements.

What skills do I need to become a Django developer?

A Django developer will necessarily have to be intimately familiar with Django in order to extract the most value from it and to be able to build websites and web apps to project specifications for clients. This means also being intimately familiar with Python, the programming language that Django is written in. Learning Django can be difficult without knowledge of Python; however, there are plenty of Django tutorials available online to assist.

1. Prepare your toolkit

A Django developer works with the Python programming language, so you’ll need an IDE (integrated development environment) such as Visual Studio Code, Atom, or Sublime Text. You’ll also need to download and install the latest version of Python on your machine so that you can build and run Python apps locally.

Most professional programmers will also work with a type of version control software, such as Git. In addition to this, Django developers might be expected to write and submit tests for the code they have written. Many testing frameworks exist for this purpose, so a Django developer should have experience with at least one or two testing frameworks.

2. Learn Python

Django is a framework that is built on top of Python. This means that it provides a set of programming tools to make building websites and web apps easier and more consistent, but it still requires a foundational knowledge of Python to use it. A comparison to this would be like a tool kit for a builder. It provides everything to get the job done, such as a hammer, nails, and pliers, but the tools still require a skilled user to properly make use of them. In the same way, a Django developer must have a solid understanding of Python, particularly as it applies to the web. This means not only understanding how to write Python code but also being familiar with web-specific libraries and modules, such as HTTP and SSL.

3. Learn Django and the web app lifecycle

Learning the specifics of the Django framework will help deliver fast and secure websites and web apps for clients. Because Django is built specifically for the web, a Django developer should have an in-depth knowledge of the HTTP request lifecycle and many overlapping tools and services. For example, Python and Django can interoperate with other common tools and programming languages built for the web, such as Node.js and JavaScript. Knowing how to use these additional tools and services will boost a web developer’s value.

What are the core Django developer job responsibilities?

As a framework, Django is typically used for smaller and midsize projects. A Django developer will typically be expected to design, develop, and maintain these websites and Django apps. This may involve the design and implementation of web application back ends for nontechnical administrators, the creation and implementation of database schema, the ability to write and consume RESTful APIs and web services, the ability to write and run unit tests, and the ability to write comments and document code.

Django developers may also have to participate in code reviews and work as part of a team, writing new code or maintaining and fixing bugs in existing code.

Should I get a Django developer certification?

There are no widely accepted certifications available specifically for Django, but there are certifications available for Python that could help a Django developer to stand out. The Python Institute offers a number of vendor-neutral certifications for Python suitable for a range of skill levels. Some of the certifications on offer include:

• PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer
• PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming
• CEPP – Certified Expert in Python Programming

While a Python certification might help a candidate to stand out, its value will be largely determined by the client. It is a bonus, but an equally strong GitHub profile or portfolio can demonstrate your programming ability as effectively as a certification.