Site icon TechVidvan

Create a Discussion Forum in Python Django

TechVidvan Team
python django discussion forum project

The Discussion Forum is a web-based application developed using Django. It aims to facilitate online discussions by allowing users to create, view, and comment on posts. This system provides a platform for users to engage in meaningful conversations on various topics.

About Python Django Discussion Forum

The Discussion Forum is designed to streamline the process of online discussions. It includes features like user registration, post creation, comment submission, and administrative controls for managing posts and comments. The application ensures robust security, scalability, and ease of maintenance.

Objectives of Python Django Discussion Forum

Project Setup

Required Libraries

The project requires the following Python libraries:

Django: For a web framework and ORM.
SQLite: For database management.
Bootstrap: For responsive design and styling.

Technology Stack

Prerequisites for Python Django Discussion Forum

Download the Python Django Discussion Forum Project

Please download the source code of the Python Django Discussion Forum Project: Python Django Discussion Forum Project Code.

Step-by-Step Code Implementation of Python Django Discussion Forum

1. Project Initialization

django-admin startproject discussion_forum
cd discussion_forum
python manage.py startapp forum

2. Setting Up Models

from django.db import models
from django.utils import timezone


class Post(models.Model):
   class Meta:
       db_table = 'post'
  
   name = models.CharField('Name', blank=False, null=False, max_length=14, db_index=True)
   body = models.CharField('Body', blank=False, null=False, max_length=140, db_index=True)
   created_at = models.DateTimeField('Created DateTime', blank=False, auto_now_add=True)
  
   def __str__(self):
       return self.name


class Comment(models.Model):
   post = models.ForeignKey(Post, related_name='comments', on_delete=models.CASCADE)
   author = models.CharField(max_length=200)
   text = models.TextField()
   created_date = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
   approved_comment = models.BooleanField(default=False)


   def approve(self):
       self.approved_comment = True
       self.save()


   def __str__(self):
       return self.text

3. Making Migrations

python3 manage.py makemigrations forum
python3 manage.py migrate

4. Defining Views

from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404, redirect
from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
from .models import Post, View
from .forms import ViewForm
from .forms import PostForm, CommentForm


@login_required
def post_list(request):
   posts = Post.objects.all().order_by('-created_at')
   return render(request, 'forum/post_list.html', {'posts': posts})


@login_required
def post_detail(request, post_id):
   post = get_object_or_404(Post, pk=post_id)
   views = View.objects.filter(post=post)
  
   if request.method == 'POST':
       form = ViewForm(request.POST)
       if form.is_valid():
           view = form.save(commit=False)
           view.post = post
           view.author = request.user
           view.save()
           return redirect('post_detail', post_id=post_id)
   else:
       form = ViewForm()


   return render(request, 'forum/post_detail.html', {'post': post, 'views': views, 'form': form})




@login_required
def new_post(request):
   if request.method == 'POST':
       form = PostForm(request.POST)
       if form.is_valid():
           form.save()
           return redirect('post_list')
   else:
       form = PostForm()
   return render(request, 'forum/new_post.html', {'form': form})


@login_required
def post_edit(request, pk):
   post = get_object_or_404(Post, pk=pk)
   if request.method == "POST":
       form = PostForm(request.POST, instance=post)
       if form.is_valid():
           post = form.save(commit=False)
           post.author = request.user 
           post.save()
           return redirect('post_detail', pk=post.pk) 
   else:
       form = PostForm(instance=post)
   return render(request, 'forum/post_edit.html', {'form': form})

5. Setting URLs

from django.urls import path
from . import views
from django.contrib.auth import views as auth_views


urlpatterns = [
   path('', views.post_list, name='post_list'),
   path('post/<int:post_id>/', views.post_detail, name='post_detail'),
   path('post/new/', views.new_post, name='new_post'),
   path('accounts/login/', auth_views.LoginView.as_view(template_name='registration/login.html'), name='login'),
   path('accounts/logout/', auth_views.LogoutView.as_view(), name='logout'),
   path('post/<int:pk>/edit/', views.post_edit, name='post_edit'),
]`

6. Creating Templates

base.html:-

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
   <title>{% block title %}TechVidvan@Discussion Forum{% endblock %}</title>
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.3.1/css/bootstrap.min.css">
   {% load static %}
   <script>
       function confirmLogout() {
           if (confirm("Are you sure you want to logout?")) {
               window.location.href = "{% url 'logout' %}";
           } else {
               return false;
           }
       }
   </script>
</head>
<body>
   <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light bg-light">
       <a class="navbar-brand" href="{% url 'post_list' %}">Techvidvan@Discussion Forum</a>
       <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarNav">
           <ul class="navbar-nav ml-auto">
               {% if user.is_authenticated %}
                   <li class="nav-item">
                       <a class="nav-link" href="{% url 'new_post' %}">New Forum</a>
                   </li>
                   <li class="nav-item">
                       <a class="nav-link" href="#" onclick="return confirmLogout();">Logout</a>
                   </li>
               {% else %}
                   <li class="nav-item">
                       <a class="navlink" href="{% url 'login' %}">Login</a>
                   </li>
               {% endif %}
           </ul>
       </div>
   </nav>
   <div class="container">
       {% block content %}{% endblock %}
   </div>
</body>
</html>

post_list.html:-

{% extends 'forum/base.html' %}


{% block content %}
 <div class="container mt-5">
   <h1 class="mb-4 text-center">Techvidvan@Discussion Forum</h1>


   {% if posts %}
     <div class="list-group">
       {% for post in posts %}
         <a href="{% url 'post_detail' post_id=post.id %}" class="list-group-item list-group-item-action">
           <h5 class="mb-1 text-primary font-weight-bold">{{ post.name }}</h5>
           <p class="mb-1">{{ post.body|slice:":150" }}{% if post.body|length > 150 %}...{% endif %}</p>
           <small class="text-muted">Created at: {{ post.created_at }}</small>
         </a>
       {% endfor %}
     </div>
   {% else %}
     <div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
       No posts available.
     </div>
   {% endif %}


   <div class="text-center mt-4">
     <a href="{% url 'new_post' %}" class="btn btn-success btn-lg">Create New Forum</a>
   </div>
 </div>
{% endblock %}

post_detail.html:-

{% extends 'forum/base.html' %}


{% block content %}
 <div class="container mt-4">
   <div class="card">
     <div class="card-header">
       <h1>{{ post.name }}</h1>
     </div>
     <div class="card-body">
       <p class="card-text">{{ post.body }}</p>
       <footer class="blockquote-footer">Created at: {{ post.created_at }}</footer>
     </div>
   </div>


   {% if views %}
     <div class="mt-4">
       <h3>Views:</h3>
       <div class="list-group">
         {% for view in views %}
           <div class="list-group-item">
             <p>{{ view.text }}</p>
             <small class="text-muted">Viewed at: {{ view.created_at }}</small>
             <small class="text-muted">Author: {{ view.author.username }}</small>
           </div>
         {% endfor %}
       </div>
     </div>
   {% endif %}


   <div class="mt-4">
     <button class="btn btn-primary" id="addViewBtn">Add View</button>
   </div>


   <div id="viewForm" class="mt-4" style="display: none;">
     <h3>Add a View:</h3>
     <form method="post" action="{% url 'post_detail' post_id=post.id %}">
       {% csrf_token %}
       <div class="form-group">
         <label for="id_text">Text:</label>
         <textarea id="id_text" name="text" class="form-control">{{ form.text.value }}</textarea>
       </div>
       <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
     </form>
   </div>
 </div>


 <script>
   document.getElementById('addViewBtn').addEventListener('click', function() {
     var form = document.getElementById('viewForm');
     if (form.style.display === 'none') {
       form.style.display = 'block';
     } else {
       form.style.display = 'none';
     }
   });
 </script>
{% endblock %}

new_post.html:-

{% extends 'forum/base.html' %}


{% load crispy_forms_tags %}


{% block title %}New Post{% endblock %}


{% block content %}
<h1 class="my-4">New Post</h1>
<form method="post" class="needs-validation" novalidate>
   {% csrf_token %}
   {{ form|crispy }}
   <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Save Post</button>
</form>
<a href="{% url 'post_list' %}" class="btn btn-secondary mt-3">Back to Posts</a>
{% endblock %}

login.html:-

{% extends 'forum/base.html' %}


{% load crispy_forms_tags %}


{% block title %}Login{% endblock %}


{% block content %}
<h1 class="my-4">Login</h1>
<form method="post" class="needs-validation" novalidate>
   {% csrf_token %}
   {{ form|crispy }}
   <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Login</button>
</form>
{% endblock %}

Python Django Discussion Forum Output

1. Application Interface

2. Login Form 

3. New Forum

4. Add Views

5. Logout

6. Administrative Page

7. Views Section Page

Conclusion

The Discussion Forum project is showing the capabilities of Django for building robust web applications. It enhances user engagement by providing a platform for online discussions. The project can be further extended with features like user profiles, notifications, and post categorisation for improved usability.

Exit mobile version