Frontend development is a crucial aspect of any web application, and having a flexible and efficient architecture can greatly improve the development process. In this article, we will explore django CMS Frontend, a plugin bundle that builds on and enhances the architecture of djangocms-bootstrap4.
The objective of django CMS Frontend is to provide a set of popular frontend components that are independent of the currently used frontend framework, such as Bootstrap, or its specific version. It provides support for Bootstrap 5, django CMS 3.8+, and the new upcoming major django CMS 4.
One of the key features of django CMS Frontend is the separation of plugins from the css framework. This means that there is no need to rebuild your site’s plugin tree if the css framework is changed in the future. For example, you can easily switch from Bootstrap 5 to a future version without any hassle.
Another notable feature is the new link plugin, which allows you to link to internal pages provided by other applications, such as djangocms-blog. This extends the functionality of the link plugin beyond just linking to CMS pages.
The admin frontend of djangocms-bootstrap4 is improved and provides a nice and well-arranged interface for managing your frontend components. Additionally, there is a management command available to migrate from djangocms-bootstrap4 to djangocms-frontend, which automatically migrates all plugins.
One of the core strengths of django CMS Frontend is its extensibility. It can be extended within your project or with a separate project, such as a theme app. This allows you to customize and add new frontend components based on your specific requirements.
The plugins provided by django CMS Frontend are framework agnostic, and the framework can be easily changed by adapting your project’s settings. The design parameters are stored in a common JSON field, eliminating the need to rebuild your full plugin tree when upgrading the frontend framework.
To get started with django CMS Frontend, you need to have the following requirements installed: django-cms, django-filer, djangocms-attributes-field, djangocms-text-ckeditor, django-select2, and django-entangled. Make sure to configure and install django Filer and django CMS Text CKEditor appropriately.
Installation of django CMS Frontend is straightforward. You can install it using pip:
#
pip install djangocms-frontend
After installation, add the necessary entries to your project’s INSTALLED_APPS setting. Run the migration command to migrate the plugins:
#
python manage.py migrate
If you are using Django < 3.2, you will also need to add django-jsonfield-backport to your requirements.txt and INSTALLED_APPS list.
For those who want to utilize the icon support in links, you can install the djangocms-icon package separately or include it as an option during installation.
For detailed documentation and examples, refer to the django CMS Frontend documentation.
django CMS Frontend is an open-source project, and contributions are always welcome. You can get involved in the project by reviewing the contribution guidelines. The project also has a bounty program to reward contributors for their valuable contributions.
In conclusion, django CMS Frontend is a powerful plugin bundle that enhances the frontend development experience in Django projects. It provides support for popular frontend components, flexibility in choosing a frontend framework, and seamless migration from djangocms-bootstrap4. Give it a try and make your frontend development easier and more efficient.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to ask in the comments below.
References:
– Repository: django-cms/djangocms-frontend
– Documentation: django CMS Frontend
– License: MIT License
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