Django app: from startproject to live, step by step

1. Create the project

mkdir mysite && cd mysite
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate          # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
pip install django gunicorn
django-admin startproject myproject .
python manage.py runserver          # http://127.0.0.1:8000

2. Production settings

In myproject/settings.py read secrets from the environment and set the static folder:

import os
SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY', 'dev-only-change-me')
DEBUG = os.environ.get('DEBUG') == '1'
ALLOWED_HOSTS = os.environ.get('ALLOWED_HOSTS', 'localhost,127.0.0.1').split(',')
CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS = ['https://' + h for h in ALLOWED_HOSTS if h not in ('localhost', '127.0.0.1')]
STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'staticfiles'

3. List the packages

Every package your app uses must be in requirements.txt — the server installs exactly what is listed.

pip freeze > requirements.txt

4. Push to GitHub

Make sure .gitignore contains .venv/, __pycache__/ and .env, then push (see Put your code on GitHub).

5. Launch and configure

Launch an app → Python → version (match the one on your computer) → plan → domain → pay. Then App settings → Framework Django. Change myproject in the start command if your project folder has another name. Add variables with + Add variable: SECRET_KEY (a long random string), ALLOWED_HOSTS = yourdomain.com,www.yourdomain.com, and your database settings. Save all.

6. Deploy

Connect the repository under Git deployments and press Deploy now. Each deploy installs requirements.txt into a fresh virtual environment, then runs collectstatic and migrate.

7. Create an admin user

Open Terminal in the dashboard:

cd ~/web/yourdomain.com/app
source .venv/bin/activate
python manage.py createsuperuser
deactivate

Go live on your domain

Point the domain's @ and www A records to the IP shown in Domains, wait for Points here, then Issue free SSL → Always use HTTPS → Save changes.