How to Install Django 5 on Ubuntu 24.04

What is Django?

Django is a high-level, open-source Python web framework that promotes rapid development, clean code, and secure web applications. Django follows the Model-View-Template (MVT) architectural pattern and is known for its “batteries-included” philosophy—offering tools for database management, authentication, forms, admin panels, and more right out of the box.

Django 5.0, released in December 2023, introduces a number of modern enhancements that improve performance, maintainability, and security. Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat), being a modern LTS release, is well-suited for developing and deploying Django applications in production.

What’s New in Django 5.0

Python 3.10+ Required
Django 5.0 requires Python 3.10 or higher, ensuring compatibility with the latest language features and improvements.
Form Rendering Improvements
More flexible, consistent form rendering APIs using render() methods and improved widget handling.
Database Features
Better support for PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and MySQL with extended JSON field capabilities and more robust query optimizations.
ASGI and Async Enhancements
Improved support for asynchronous views, middleware, and handlers. Better integration with ASGI servers like Daphne, Uvicorn, or Hypercorn.
Template Engine and Admin Improvements
Template engine updates and admin interface enhancements, including accessibility fixes and more customizable widgets.
Deprecated Python 3.7 and 3.8
Removed compatibility with older Python versions to streamline performance and security.

Why Use Django 5 on Ubuntu 24.04?

Ubuntu 24.04 provides:

The latest LTS Python versions (Python 3.11 by default)
Access to the latest PostgreSQL, Redis, Nginx, and systemd improvements
Security patches and support until 2029
First-class compatibility with virtual environments, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines

Ubuntu’s stability, combined with Django’s power, makes it an excellent choice for building and deploying reliable, scalable web applications.

System Requirements for Django 5 on Ubuntu 24.04

Component	Recommended Configuration
OS	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Python Version	Python 3.11 (default in Ubuntu 24.04)
Web Server	Nginx or Apache (with uWSGI or Gunicorn)
WSGI/ASGI Server	Gunicorn, Daphne, Uvicorn, or Hypercorn
Database	PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MySQL, SQLite (dev)
Optional	Redis (for caching and channels), Celery

Common Use Cases

Content Management Systems
REST APIs and microservices using Django REST Framework (DRF)
SaaS products and internal tools
E-commerce platforms
Educational platforms and learning management systems
Real-time applications (via Django Channels)

Advantages of Using Django 5

Secure by default: Protects against XSS, CSRF, SQL injection, etc.
Built-in admin interface: Powerful interface for managing models and data.
ORM (Object-Relational Mapping): Interact with databases using Python code.
Scalable and production-ready: Used by Instagram, Pinterest, Disqus, and others.
Extensive documentation and active community.
Supports asynchronous views, ideal for high-performance APIs and websocket apps.

Development Tools and Environment

Virtualenv / venv for isolated environments
Django Extensions, debug-toolbar, and Celery for extended dev capabilities
IDEs like VS Code, PyCharm, or Vim
Test frameworks: Django’s built-in test suite, pytest-django
CI/CD integrations: GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins

Deployment Options on Ubuntu 24.04

Gunicorn + Nginx + PostgreSQL
Traditional stack using Gunicorn as the WSGI server and Nginx as the reverse proxy.
ASGI Stack for Async Support
Use Uvicorn or Daphne with Nginx for websocket-based apps or async APIs.
Dockerized Deployment
Containerized environments using Docker and Docker Compose, often combined with tools like Traefik, Redis, and PostgreSQL.
Cloud Deployments
Easily deploy Django apps to:
- AWS (EC2, Lightsail, Elastic Beanstalk)
- DigitalOcean
- Google Cloud
- Heroku (with Docker or buildpacks)

Security Best Practices

Set DEBUG = False in production
Use ALLOWED_HOSTS to restrict access
Serve static and media files securely
Use SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt
Regularly update Django and dependencies
Use tools like Bandit, Safety, and Black for code security and formatting

Django 5 on Ubuntu 24.04 is a robust, secure, and scalable solution for developing modern web applications and APIs. With asynchronous capabilities, a powerful ORM, and a rich ecosystem, Django continues to be one of the most productive frameworks for developers. Ubuntu 24.04 provides a stable and secure platform for both development and production environments, making it an ideal choice for deploying Django-powered projects in 2024 and beyond.

Step 1: Create a Cloud VPS on Shape.Host

Go to https://shape.host and log in.

Click Create.

Choose Instance.

Pick your preferred server location.

Select Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit) as the OS.

Choose a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.

Click Create Instance.

Find the IP address under the Resources tab.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Linux/macOS:
Open your terminal and run:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Windows:
Use PuTTY, enter your IP, and log in as root.

Step 3: Update System Package Index

apt update

Refreshes the list of available packages on your system.

Step 4: Install Python 3.12 and Virtual Environment Tools

apt install python3.12 python3.12-venv

Installs Python 3.12 and the venv module to manage isolated environments.

Step 5: Check Python Version

python3 -V

Confirms that Python is installed and shows the version number.

Step 6: Create a Python Virtual Environment for Django

python3 -m venv --system-site-packages ~/django5

Creates a virtual environment named django5 in your home directory.

Step 7: Activate the Virtual Environment

source ~/django5/bin/activate

Switches to the isolated Python environment.

Step 8: Install Django 5 (or any version between 5 and 6)

pip3 install 'Django>=5,<6'

Installs the latest Django 5.x version using pip.

Step 9: Verify Django Installation

django-admin --version

Shows the installed version of Django to confirm it’s working.

Step 10: Deactivate the Environment (Optional)

deactivate

Exits the virtual environment. You can re-activate it anytime.

Step 11: Reactivate the Virtual Environment

source ~/django5/bin/activate

Enter the Django environment again to continue your project.

Step 12: Create a New Django Project

django-admin startproject myproject

This creates a new Django project in a folder named myproject.

Step 13: Move into the Project Folder

cd myproject

Navigates to the project directory.

Step 14: Apply Migrations

python manage.py migrate

Sets up the default database schema used by Django.

Step 15: Create a Superuser

python manage.py createsuperuser

Creates an admin account for accessing the Django admin panel.

Step 16: Edit Allowed Hosts

nano /root/myproject/myproject/settings.py

Find this line:

ALLOWED_HOSTS = []

Change it to:

ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['your-ip', 'localhost', '127.0.0.1']

Replace 'your-ip' with the actual public IP of your server.

Step 17: Start the Django Development Server

python manage.py runserver 51.89.69.203:8000

Runs the server, listening on the specified IP and port.

Step 18: Access Your Django Site

Open your browser and visit:

http://51.89.69.203:8000

You should see the Django welcome page.

You now have Django 5 running on Ubuntu 24.04, with a virtual environment, admin access, and your project ready to go.

This setup runs smoothly on a Shape.Host Linux SSD VPS. Get:

Instant instance creation
Full root access
Great performance for Python and Django projects

Start at https://shape.host

Cloud Instances

Storage & Networking