How to Build a Backend for Django?

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to build a backend for Django using Back4App’s robust, AI-powered platform.

Django is a high-level web framework that encourages rapid backend development and clean, pragmatic design.

We’ll create a scalable and secure backend that integrates seamlessly with your Django project.

By using Back4App, you can take advantage of automated database management, powerful APIs, file storage, user authentication, data validation, real-time capabilities, and advanced security features.

You’ll see how Back4App’s environment automatically generates server infrastructure, letting you focus on your Django app’s business logic.

This approach shortens development time by removing the need to manually set up servers and databases.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a robust structure for your web applications that can be extended with more complex features, integrations, and custom logic.

Having these prerequisites in place will ensure a smoother experience as you follow this tutorial.

A new project on Back4App is the backbone of your backend development. It provides you with Parse Server capabilities, database tools, and a powerful admin interface.

This central structure lets you offload server management and focus on your Django app’s business logic.

Once created, your app will appear in your Back4App dashboard. This new project is where we’ll store data, manage security rules, and run server-side code for your Django app.

To connect your Django project to Back4App, we’ll use the Parse Python SDK. It allows you to handle data operations, user authentication, real-time features, and more from within your Python code.

With this configuration, any file in your Django project can import parse_config to ensure a connection to your Back4App backend. You can now query and save data from your Django code using the Parse Python SDK.

Just like Django uses models to store data in a relational database, Parse uses classes to store objects. You can create classes in the Back4App dashboard or define them on the fly.

Back4App’s AI Agent can help you automatically generates a schema:

This can save time, especially if your Django app requires complex relationships or advanced data validation.

Below is an example of creating and querying a Todo object from within your Django project:

You can call these functions from your Django views or shell. This setup works in tandem with your Django app logic, so your web framework remains fully integrated with the Parse backend.

If you prefer REST, here’s how to create a Todo object:

Back4App also provides a GraphQL interface. For example:

This is useful if you want to integrate GraphQL queries in your Django views or microservices as part of a modern data architecture.

For real-time updates, you can enable Live Queries in the Back4App dashboard. At the moment, the official Parse Python SDK may have limited direct Live Query support. However, you can still subscribe to changes via WebSockets or other approaches if needed. Check the Back4App Docs for the latest updates on Python Live Queries.

Use Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Class-Level Permissions (CLPs) to protect your data. ACLs control read/write permissions per object, while CLPs apply to an entire class.

This ensures your Django project respects the same granular security rules set in Back4App.

With Cloud Code, you run business logic on the server side. For instance, you can perform data validation, integrate external APIs, or trigger events before saving data. This is a powerful complement to your Django views and templates, letting you centralize advanced logic in one place.

Cloud Code is typically written in JavaScript. You deploy it to Back4App, and then call it from your Django app via the Parse Python SDK or REST requests. A simple function:

If you need external Node modules in your Cloud Code, declare them in your Cloud Code directory’s package.json. Back4App automatically installs them upon deployment.

By default, Parse includes the User class for signups and logins. Configure email verification, password resets, and more in the Back4App dashboard.

If you need Google, Apple, or Facebook logins, configure them in Auth Settings of Back4App and follow the respective guides. Your Django app can then link or log in users by calling the relevant Parse methods.

Back4App securely stores files uploaded via the Parse SDK. You can upload from Django by sending a file to a Parse File field:

If you want to add user-uploaded images, integrate an <input type="file"> in your Django templates, then handle the file in a view function that calls upload_image().

Parse provides a configuration that controls who can upload files:

Adjust these to match your security needs, ensuring that only trusted users can store and access sensitive files.

Django’s admin interface handles many things, but for your Parse-powered backend, you can also enable email verification and password resets. It’s vital for verifying real users and providing a smooth account recovery path.

In your Django app, you might offer a password reset form. When a user requests a reset, call Parse’s password reset endpoint or the appropriate Python method if supported in the SDK.

Cloud Jobs let you run automated tasks, such as cleaning old data or generating reports. This complements Django’s crontab or celery workflows by centralizing tasks in Back4App’s environment.

After deploying, schedule it in the Back4App Dashboard under Server Settings > Background Jobs to run daily or weekly.

Webhooks let you send HTTP requests to external services when certain events happen in your Back4App classes. For example, notify a Slack channel or a payment service whenever a new record is created.

Whenever a new Todo is created, a POST request goes to your Django app’s endpoint. In Django, you’d parse the JSON data and handle it (e.g., logging or further processing).

The Back4App Admin App is in your console under More > Admin App. It’s a model-centric interface for managing your data without writing code.

This is similar to Django’s own admin interface, but focuses on the Parse backend.

By following this guide, you have learned how to build a backend for Django using Back4App. You have:

With this foundation, you can confidently extend your Django project. Integrate advanced features, optimize performance, and add custom logic to handle enterprise-level requirements.

Keep experimenting with the Parse Python SDK to deliver powerful web applications. Happy coding!