Upgrading to Django 5.0

by Metz

Upgrading Django to 5.0 can be an exciting step, but it's important to approach it cautiously to avoid complications. Here are some steps to guide you:

Preparation:

  1. Back up your project: Before making any changes, ensure you have a complete backup of your project files and database.
  2. Review Django 5.0 release notes: Familiarize yourself with the new features and backwards incompatible changes. Pay particular attention to the "How to upgrade Django to a newer version" section: https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.0/howto/upgrade-version/
  3. Check third-party library compatibility: Ensure all your third-party apps are compatible with Django 5.0. Consult their documentation or release notes to verify.

Upgrade process:

  1. Update your requirements.txt: Change the Django package version to django==5.0.
  2. Install the new version: In your virtual environment, run pip install -U django.
  3. Run migrations: Apply any pending database migrations with python manage.py migrate.
  4. Test your application: Thoroughly test your application's functionality to ensure everything works as expected.

Additional considerations:

  • Python compatibility: Django 5.0 requires Python 3.10, 3.11, or 3.12. Upgrade your Python interpreter if necessary.
  • Deprecations: Be aware of any deprecated features or APIs in Django 5.0 and address them in your code.
  • Field group templates: Django 5.0 introduces field groups and templates for simplifying form field rendering. Consider this new approach for your forms.
  • Facet filters in admin: The admin interface has improved facet filters and show_facets attribute for customizing their behavior.

Resources:

Feel free to ask further questions or share specific details about your project if you need more tailored guidance. Upgrading to a new Django version can be a smooth process with careful planning and preparation. Good luck!