How to use dj-database-url while connecting with postgresql in heroku using python

Question

I\'m here because I\'m really really new with heroku-python-django-postgresql group. I have googled for a usage for dj-database-url and I don\'t understand why i have to use it

Answer 1

Use pip module dj-dtabase-url. Add an environmental var with the name 'DATABASE_URL' and the value from the heroku db settings.

Important, to avoid the error 'NameError: name 'DATABASES' is not defined.' You still have to leave for example the default DATABSE settings.

The complete code:

import dj_database_url

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
        'NAME': 'mydatabase',
    }
}
DATABASES['default'] = dj_database_url.config()

Answer 2

dj-database-url is a utility to help you load your database into your dictionary from the DATABASE_URL environment variable. Heroku uses environment variables for your database and other addons. To begin using your database you'd simply use the below command to setup your DATABASES dictionary:

import dj_database_url
DATABASES['default'] = dj_database_url.config()

And maybe stash DATABASE_URL in your virtualenv activate script.