Django Auto Forum
Zip Code Wilmington capstone — Django forum for automotive how-tos with S3 media, multi-app structure, and Heroku deployment path.
Projektschwerpunkt
Software
Key Features
Multi-app Django layout
S3-backed uploads
Forum + profiles + projects apps
Scope of work
Ship a self-owned automotive forum during Zip Code Wilmington cohort 3.1:
- Scaffold Django project with
discuss_forum,user_profile,projects,blog,forum_base - Implement threaded discussion core and admin tooling
- Wire cloud media uploads to S3 (images for how-tos and garage posts)
- Deploy to Heroku with Postgres and environment-based settings
- Document roadmap items left WIP (groups, reactions, DMs, front-end framework layer)
Out of scope: mobile apps, real-time WebSocket chat, production moderation team.
Timeline
| Phase | Window | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Cohort start | Summer 2022 | App boundaries + auth |
| Forum MVP | Aug 2022 | Threads, comments, admin |
| S3 media | Aug–Sep 2022 | Upload pipeline to bucket |
| Deploy | Sep 2022 | Heroku app + Postgres |
| Capstone close | Sep 2022 | Public repo + README roadmap |
Stack & BOM
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Django 3.x | Server-rendered forum + admin |
| PostgreSQL | Primary datastore (Heroku addon) |
| AWS S3 | User media storage |
| Heroku | PaaS deploy target |
discuss_forum | Core threads |
user_profile | Identity / garage concept |
projects | Long-lived build threads |
blog | Announcements and guides |
Deliverables
- Public GitHub repository
- Multi-app Django structure with tests scaffold
- S3 upload path for attachments
- Heroku deployment documentation
- Groups / reactions / PMs (roadmap — WIP)
- Modern front-end framework layer (roadmap — WIP)
Outcomes
- First full-stack web application shipped end-to-end, not homework scripts
- Lineage to later Stagea community work — control beats rented social feeds for archives
- Proved Django admin is enough for early moderation if scopes stay honest
Technical debt accepted
- Server-rendered templates over SPA — velocity over polish
- WIP features listed openly in README to avoid vaporware marketing
Build-Log & Kontext
Scope, Zeitplan und Stückliste stehen hier. Für Entscheidungen und längeren Kontext den verlinkten Blogbeitrag lesen.
Blogbeitrag lesenCompleted on: 12. Sept. 2022