---
description: This rule explains Django conventions and best practices for backend development.
globs: **/*.py
alwaysApply: false
---
# Django rules
- Use `python manage.py startapp` to create new apps within your project
- Keep models in `models.py` and register them in `admin.py` for admin interface
- Use Django's ORM instead of raw SQL queries
- Avoid N+1 queries with `select_related` and `prefetch_related`:
```python
# Good pattern
users = User.objects.select_related('profile')
posts = Post.objects.prefetch_related('tags')
```
- Use Django forms for validation:
```python
class UserForm(forms.ModelForm):
class Meta:
model = User
fields = ['username', 'email']
```
- Create custom model managers for common queries:
```python
class ActiveUserManager(models.Manager):
def get_queryset(self):
return super().get_queryset().filter(is_active=True)
```
- Use Django's built-in authentication system
- Store settings in environment variables and access via `settings.py`