Running Django on Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit

If you are interested in creating a local development environment for Django and you are running Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit, this guide is for you! Following are step by step instructions.

1. Install Python

Download: http://www.python.org/download/
Install the following: “Python 2.5.2 Windows installer”

2. Install Python Extensions for Windows

Download: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32/
Install the following: “pywin32-211.win32-py2.5.exe”

3. Update Skype ( if you are running Skype )

Change the following option so that your Skype install does not use port 80, which will conflict with your Apache server installation.

4. Install Apache HTTP Server

Download: http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi
Install the following: “Win32 Binary including OpenSSL 0.9.8h (MSI Installer)”

5. Install mod_python

Download: http://www.mirrorgeek.com/apache.org/httpd/modpython/win/3.3.1/
Install the following ( Note that you need to run this as administrator ): “mod_python-3.3.1.win32-py2.5-Apache2.2.exe”

6. Install PostgreSQL

Download: http://www.postgresql.org/ftp/binary/v8.3.3/win32/
Install the following: “postgresql-8.3.3-1.zip”

7. Install psycopg

Download: http://stickpeople.com/projects/python/win-psycopg/
Install the following ( Note that you need to run this as administrator ): “psycopg2-2.0.7.win32-py2.5-pg8.3.1-release.exe”

8. Download Django

Download: http://www.djangoproject.com/download/
Install the following: “Django-0.96.2.tar.gz”

Open setup.py  and change line 24 from
package = dirpath[len_root_dir:].lstrip(‘/’).replace(‘/’, ‘.’)
to
package = dirpath[len_root_dir:].lstrip(‘\\’).replace(‘\\’, ‘.’)

Start up a command shell with administrator privileges and run the command “setup.py install” in a command prompt.

8. Test

Test by running “import django” from the Python interpreter, if you have no errors you were successful.

Try out this tutorial to get started with your first project.