A six-session introduction to programming websites using a popular web development framework called Django. Django is a free and open source web application framework written in Python. A software framework is a set of standard, connected tools to make the development of certain kinds of software projects easier.

In this class we will learn the basics of how static web sites are constructed, interpreted, and hosted using HTML and CSS and how dynamic websites are created using server-side software and data. We will use an online software development environment called PaizaCloud to write, share, and deploy our projects.

The course will be ongoing and progressive. Over the six weeks we will work together to build a simple database-backed website and become familiar with the basics of how the web works. While some familiarity with computer use and basic keyboarding skills will be helpful, this class will be targeted to students with no technical background and will be suitable for beginning programmers.

Because each week will be built off of work from the previous week, the following session breakdown is just a summary and overview of how the course will generally go. What we cover exactly from week to week will likely be somewhat different.

• Session 1: What is the web? HTML/CSS and servers and browsers

• Session 2: Coding basics -- getting started with Python

• Session 3: Getting started with Django -- what is a dynamic website?

• Session 4: Storing information -- mySQL and databases

• Session 5: Using data to generate dynamic web pages

• Session 6 (this one): Putting it all together, wrapping it all up

You might be interested in this class if:

• You're considering a longer, more in-depth programming/computer science course. This class is a great way to "get your feet wet" and get a taste of what coding is like before going deeper
• You work with programmers and programming in a non-programming capacity and want to know more about how the programming side of the work is done
• You have a software project or idea that you want to work on but don't know how to get started
• You're just curious -- you want to know more about how computers work, how software is written, or you think it just sounds fun.

NOTE: This is class 6 of 6. Visit www.fabville.net to sign up for all six classes and get your Intro to Web Programming credential via Skill Up Somerville. For questions on registration, email contact@fabville.net