How to check out the latest version of Django using TortoiseSVN

This is a few pointers on how to get Django 0.97 and the App Engine Django Helper running.

I notice that a lot of people are using the included 0.96 version of Django included with the App Engine. Don't do this, it's stupid, and not recommended by anyone. The 0.96 just doesn't work all that well, it doesn't properly work with the App Engine Django Helper, and lacks a LOT of really nice stuff.

I think that the main reason people don't use the 0.97 version is that it's an unreleased version, which means it cannot be downloaded in a nice zip - instead, you need to check it out from the Django Subversion repository. New developers don't realize how incredibly easy it is to do this - it's almost easier than downloading a zip file.

Anyway, here is how you check out the current development version of Django (as of writing, v0.97), on windows:

1. Download TortoiseSVN
2. Install it and restart your computer.
   
3. Create a folder called django or something, right click it, and click CheckOut.
   
   

4. Enter http://code.djangoproject.com/svn/django/trunk/ in the URL field and click OK.
   
   

5. Grab a cup of coffee REALLY FUCKING QUICKLY.
   
   

6. All done! You now have Django 0.97!
   
   

Installning the Django Helper

As for installing the Django Helper, the introduction is pretty straightforward. There are three issues that you need to be aware of though:

1. You must remove a few unnecessary files from django to get below the 1000 file limit of App Engine. Waste these directories:

• django/bin
• django/contrib/admin
• django/contrib/databrowse

(DON'T delete django/contrib/auth like the Django Helper inroduction says. It's actually needed.)

2. VERY IMPORTANT if you have a non-english operating system:
There is a very annoying bug in the Django helper r30 that causes the error "The Google App Engine SDK could not be found" when you try to run the Django Server if you run a non-english operating system. Workaround and patch is availiable.

3. You need to have the Python win32 extensions installed if you are on windows.

Stay curious,
Mattias