Hey everyone, I’m stuck trying to get my Django e-commerce site up on AWS. I’ve got it working fine on my local machine with MySQL, but now I’m lost in the AWS world.
I tried using Elastic Beanstalk, but ran into issues with static files and database migrations. Then I set up an RDS instance, but couldn’t figure out how to connect it to my app or migrate my existing data.
I’m looking for a clear checklist of steps to deploy a Django project on AWS, including:
- Setting up Elastic Beanstalk correctly
- Configuring the environment
- Handling database migration
- Dealing with static files
Has anyone gone through this process before? Any tips or gotchas to watch out for? I’d really appreciate a breakdown of the key steps and maybe some pointers on common mistakes to avoid.
Thanks in advance for any help! I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m totally lost here.
Deploying a Django e-commerce site on AWS can be challenging, but a clear understanding of the process helps ease the transition from local development to a cloud environment. First, create an Elastic Beanstalk environment using the appropriate Python platform and update your Django settings to reflect AWS requirements, including configuring your RDS instance and setting environment variables like SECRET_KEY and database credentials. Ensure your RDS instance is launched in the same VPC as your Elastic Beanstalk environment to maintain connectivity. Use S3 for static file storage by integrating django-storages and remember to collect your static files and run database migrations manually via SSH. Monitoring security groups and environment variable settings is essential for a smooth deployment. For further troubleshooting, consult AWS documentation for best practices.
Hey there Mike_Energetic! 
I totally get your frustration with AWS deployment - it can be a real headache, especially coming from local development. But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this!
Have you considered using Docker containers for your deployment? It might simplify things a bit. You could package your Django app, along with all its dependencies, into a container and then deploy that on ECS (Elastic Container Service). This approach could help avoid some of the issues you’re facing with Elastic Beanstalk.
As for the database, have you looked into using Amazon Aurora? It’s compatible with MySQL but offers some nice performance benefits. Might be worth checking out!
Oh, and for static files, S3 is definitely the way to go. Have you tried using the django-storages library? It makes S3 integration pretty seamless.
I’m curious, what kind of e-commerce features are you implementing in your site? Any cool functionalities you’re excited about?
Keep at it - you’re asking all the right questions and I’m sure you’ll get it sorted soon! 
yo mike, aws can be a pain but it’s doable. first, set up elastic beanstalk with python platform. update ur django settings for aws, includin RDS stuff. make sure RDS is in same VPC. use S3 for static files with django-storages. SSH in to run migrations manually. watch ur security groups and env vars.
pro tip: docker containers might make life easier. Good luck mate!