[Django Girls] Python Anywhere plug-in for the Django Simple Deploy

pauloxnet · October 1, 2025, 10:11pm

Help needed to complete the Python Anywhere plug-in for the Django Simple Deploy package, it will help a lot the Django Girls tutorial.

github.com/caktus/dsd-pythonanywhere

Notes and research on deploying a Django app to PythonAnywhere for Django Girls

opened 06:05PM - 11 Sep 25 UTC

copelco

My running notes and research on developing a PythonAnywhere plugin for django-s…imple-deploy. ### Background * The Django Girls tutorial contains a [deploy](https://tutorial.djangogirls.org/en/deploy/) section that explains how to deploy a Django app to PythonAnywhere. Sometimes users get stuck at this step and it can be frustrating. * [django-simple-deploy](https://github.com/django-simple-deploy/django-simple-deploy) aims to simplify the initial deployment process for Django applications, and includes support for fly.io, Heroku, and platform.sh. However, these services require a credit card to sign up, which can be a barrier for some users. PythonAnywhere offers a free tier that allows users to deploy small Django applications without needing a credit card. * The goal of this effort is to explore creating a PythonAnywhere plugin for django-simple-deploy that automates the deployment of Django applications to PythonAnywhere, if possible. ### Running questions 1. The Beginner: Free! plan allows hosting an app, but PostgreSQL appears to be a [paid feature](https://help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/Postgres/). Is that a blocker for django-simple-deploy, which uses PostgreSQL by default? ### Research * PythonAnywhere [provides 512MB of disk space for free accounts](https://help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/DiskQuota/), which theoretically could be used to store the SQLite database file that's used in the Django Girls tutorial. * PythonAnywhere has an [API](https://help.pythonanywhere.com/pages/API/) to perform various tasks, including running bash commands. * pythonanywhere-core is a [Python client library](https://github.com/pythonanywhere/pythonanywhere-core) for the API. * PythonAnywhere doesn't have Docker support. Based on the [Django Girls tutorial](https://tutorial.djangogirls.org/en/deploy/), it seems that users set up their Django apps using the Python Anywhere interface and web-based bash console. * The tutorial includes a [pa_autoconfigure_django.py script](https://github.com/pythonanywhere/helper_scripts/blob/master/scripts/pa_autoconfigure_django.py) that automates some of the setup steps, including pulling from your public GitHub repo: ```sh pip3.10 install pythonanywhere pa_autoconfigure_django.py --python=3.10 https://github.com/<your-github-username>/my-first-blog.git ``` * PythonAnywhere has a [cli tool](https://github.com/pythonanywhere/helper_scripts), `pa`. It supports some `webapp` commands, but appears to have some specific `django` support too. * AFAICT, the `django` commands are meant to be run from [within a PythonAnywhere bash console](https://github.com/pythonanywhere/helper_scripts/blob/879134ac8f86ec32adde1258f2f9a1ce43304454/pythonanywhere/django_project.py#L18), not locally, which isn't really compatible with django-simple-deploy. However, some of the code could be useful. ## Idea 1 - Run bash commands through the PythonAnywhere API 1. User creates a free PythonAnywhere account and generates an API token in the web console. 1. User sets environment variables locally, following the pattern established by `pa`, for example: ```sh export API_TOKEN="<your_api_token>" export PYTHONANYWHERE_SITE="<your_username>.pythonanywhere.com" ``` 1. Use `pa` or pythonanywhere-core to create a new PythonAnywhere web app. 1. Use the PythonAnywhere API to run `bash` commands to: * Pull from the user's public GitHub repo * Set up a virtual environment * Install dependencies * Set up static files * Run migrations * Configure the web app to point to the Django app's WSGI file Running bash commands through the API is a bit clunky. It could work, or maybe 1. Use the PythonAnywhere API to reload the web app. 1. Open the web app in a browser.

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[Django Girls] Python Anywhere plug-in for the Django Simple Deploy

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