django_project_in_a_week / home.py
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Django Project in a Week
Stop reading tutorials. Start shipping.
A live, 5-day bootcamp where you build a real, working Django project — not a toy tutorial — guided by an instructor who's shipped Django in production since 2009. By Friday, you'll have the actual beginnings of your own app.
# why_django_now.py
Why Django, why now
Python is everywhere right now — AI, data, automation, the web — and Django is still the fastest, most complete way to get a serious web application into the world. It's "batteries included," which means less time wiring up boilerplate and more time building the thing you actually care about.
from django.db import models   # a real ORM, no raw SQL required
from django.contrib import admin   # a working admin panel, free
from django.contrib.auth import login   # authentication, out of the box
# SECURE_SSL_REDIRECT = True    security defaults that keep you out of trouble
Whether you're a Python developer who's never built for the web, or a Flask developer wondering if Django is worth the switch, this course gets you there in five days — not five months.
# what_you_walk_away_with.py
What you'll walk away with
✓ a functional project of your own making
✓ an understanding of MVT, the Django ORM, and data migrations
✓ how views, forms, templates, and URLs work
✓ good data model design, security basics, sane project structure
✓ clear next steps for moving forward
# curriculum.py
Five days, one project
def day_1():
Start your project — fundamentals, structure, settings, and picking what you'll build.
def day_2():
Apps, models, and migrations — the ORM, the admin, and fixtures.
def day_3():
Views, templates, and URLs — the request/response cycle, and how pages get built.
def day_4():
Forms — handling user input, start to finish.
def day_5():
Wrap-up — management commands, testing, and getting ready to deploy.
"""
good practices aren't a separate lesson — they run throughout
every day: structure, data modeling, maintainability, security,
and how to use LLMs well while you build.
"""
# schedule.py
How it works
Two live sessions each day — 10am and 7pm Eastern — so it works whether you're in Nashville or Nairobi. Lecture, live demo, open Q&A, then long, open-ended lab time where you build while getting real-time help.
ActivityWhat happensTime
ReviewA look back at the previous day.15 min
LectureConcepts for the upcoming lab.15 min
Instructor labLive demo of the day's techniques.15 min
Q&AAsk before you build.15 min
BreakStep away for a moment.10 min
Learner labOpen-ended build time — come, go, ask, stay.90 min
# projects.py
Pick a project (or bring your own)
Decision Maker
A tool for collaborative decision-making.
Moderate
Job Board
Employers post jobs, applicants respond.
Moderate
Meeting Scheduler
A tool for scheduling meetings.
Difficult
Secret Link
A one-use message with a unique URL.
Moderate
To-Do List
A simple, classic to-do list.
Easy
# who_this_is_for.py
Who this is for
✓ Python devs wanting a fast track into Django
✓ Flask devs evaluating, or making, the switch
✓ any experienced dev ready to learn Django and Python together
# instructor.py
Meet your instructor
Shawn has spent nearly 30 years in information technology — programming professionally in Python since 2003, and building with Django exclusively since 2009. Along the way he's supervised production of control boards for missiles and torpedoes, worked as a private investigator, run a textbook warehouse, and lived in South America. He brings the same instinct — cut through the fluff, get to the core concept — to teaching Django that he's brought to everything else.
# testimonials.py
What people say
"Shawn takes a complex idea and peels away all the fluff to get to the core concept."— Pam Schwartz
"Your presentations helped me connect the dots — combining new knowledge with what I already had."— Sarah Pinkelman
"A sense of humor plus great theory in real-world contexts — it lends itself to practical implementation."— John Dunning
# requirements.txt
What you'll need
✓ A computer with a mic or headset — not a mobile device
✓ Python and Git
✓ PostgreSQL (optional)
✓ PyCharm (optional, strongly recommended — free edition works fine)
# pricing.py
$495 per learner
Two time slots each day, live instruction, and a real project by Friday.
Next Event Opens Sept 14    See the curriculum
# faq.py
FAQ
What if I'm new to Python?

It's a challenge, but not insurmountable — especially if you're already familiar with programming for the web, like with Flask.

Can I really finish a project in a week?

Depends on the project you choose and the effort you put in. The goal is to have at least the beginnings of a working project by the end of the week.

I don't have a project idea — can I still join?

Yes. There are several starter projects to choose from, ranging from easy to genuinely difficult.

What are the system requirements?

A computer (not mobile) with a mic or headset and a solid connection, plus Python and Git. PostgreSQL and PyCharm are optional but recommended.