Django static files can be confusing to setup - especially if you're a beginner. The word "static" sounds mysterious, convoluted and like jargon. I guess there's not one-word to describe CSS, Javascript and Images... so they chose "static" files.
Anyways, even if you've setup Django static files in the past, just REMEMBERING what STATIC_URL, STATICFILES_DIRS and STATIC_ROOT can be difficult if some time has passed and you aren't knee-deep in Django projects all the time.
For these reasons, I wanted to make this video explaining my CURRENT understand (as of 5/30/2019) of Django static files. Use this video as a reference the next time you need to setup static files in Django.
In this Django tutorial, I will first discuss what Django static files, what the staticfiles app is, and what the settings.py variables mean and do.
For example, it's not obvious that "STATIC_URL" is simply a URL prefix for the "STATIC_ROOT" and it's easy to be confused when you hear the words "STATIC_URL" and "STATIC_ROOT" - not intuitive unless you actually know what these do!
Furthermore, when you go to setup static files locally in your Django project, you will likely find it piecemeal - some from the Django documentation, some from StackOverflow and some from YouTube videos.
That's why I wanted a single video to really show what everything means and how to setup Django local static files!
If anything I said in this video is misleading or inaccurate, please do bring it up. I welcome the feedback. I always learn more when I make a mistake than I do when I don't.
So if you're ready to understand Django static files, watch this video all the way through so you see the static files example and walkthrough at the end.
Helpful links:
- https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.2/howto/static-files/
- https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.2/howto/static-files/deployment/
- https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14880407/why-do-the-django-docs-suggest-a-separate-server-for-static-files
#Python #Django #StaticFiles
