Django Cookie-Cutter - Material Dashboard
Tags: django, cookiecutter, webdev, opensource
Published: 2021-11-20 10:43:50

---
title: Django Cookie-Cutter - Material Dashboard
published: true
description: Learn how to use an open-source tool to generate a development-ready Django Dashboard crafted with a database, authentication, and Docker support.
tags: django, cookiecutter, webdev, opensource
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/v0n6jll6el5jzmzmyfw9.jpg
canonical_url: https://blog.appseed.us/cookiecutter-django-material-dashboard/
---
Hello Coders! 

This article explains how to generate a simple **Django Dashboard** using [Cookiecutter](https://blog.appseed.us/django-cookie-cutter-generator/), a well-known command-line utility that creates projects from project templates. 

The customization process allows choosing the project name, database type, and other related information like project name, version, and support email (if any).  For newcomers, **Django** is a leading web framework created and actively supported by experienced developers using a batteries-included concept.

> *Thanks for reading!* - Content provided by **[App Generator](https://appseed.us/)**.

--- 

- 👉 [Django Material Dashboard](https://django-material-dashboard.appseed-srv1.com/) - preview the generated project
- 👉 [Django Cookie-Cutter](https://github.com/app-generator/cookiecutter-django) - the generator sources
- ✨ For `support` via [Discord](https://discord.gg/fZC6hup) join `AppSeed`

---

## ✨ How it Works

To start fast and generate a new project the workstation should have a minimal toolchain used by the generator: **Python3**, **GIT**, and (optional) a modern code editor like `VsCode` or `Atom`.

> 👉 **Step #1** - Create a `virtual environment` for dependencies

```bash
$ virtualenv env
$ source env/bin/activate
```

---

> 👉 **Step #2** - Install Modules

```bash
$ pip install cookiecutter
$ pip install GitPython 
```

---

> 👉 **Step #3** -  Generate the project

```bash
$ cookiecutter https://github.com/app-generator/cookiecutter-django.git
```

**console output**

```bash
>>> project_name [Django Seed project]: Django Material
>>> project_slug [django_material]:
>>> description [A simple Django project]:
>>> author_name [AppSeed]:
>>> domain_name [example.com]:
>>> email [appseed@example.com]:
>>> version [0.0.1]:
>>> Select theme:
1 - volt
2 - soft-ui
3 - datta-able
4 - material-dashboard
Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4 [1]: 4       <---- SELECT the Material Design
>>> Select database:
1 - sqlite3
2 - mysql
3 - postgresql
Choose from 1, 2, 3 [1]:
>>> database_name [appseed_django]:
>>> database_user [appseed_user]:
>>> database_pass [Pass1234]:
>>> PRE Gen hook executed
 Cloning theme: <material-dashboard>, REPO: https://github.com/app-generator/django-dashboard-material.git
 ...done
>>> POST Gen hook executed
 *** Copy assets
 ...done
 *** Copy templates
 ...done
```

Once the process is finished, we can change the directory inside the generated sources and use **Docker** to start the app:

```bash
$ cd django_material
$ docker-compose up --build
```

At this point, the app should be accessible in the browser at the address `http://localhost:85`.

---

![Django Cookie-Cutter Material - Login Page.](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/qqfxmj05hnh4cflxoko7.png)

---

> ✨ Django Cookie-Cutter - Dashboard Page

![Django Cookie-Cutter Material - Dashboard Page.](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ztj14z8ujoa79b3bvjk0.png)

---

> ✨ Django Cookie-Cutter - VR page

![Django Cookie-Cutter Material - VR Page.](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/y1juyd7dygzlz7ep33yp.png)

---

> Thanks for reading! For more resources, feel free to access: 

- 👉 More [Django Dashboards](https://appseed.us/admin-dashboards/django/) - a curated index 
- 👉 [Django App Generator](https://app-generator.dev/django/) - A 2nd generation App Builder