Always do this when starting a new Django Project! Custom User Guide for Beginners [ Python Django ]

When starting a new Django project, there's one step you can't afford to skip: setting up a custom user model. It might seem like an extra step, but trust me, this simple setup will save you hours—or even days—of frustration later on. In this video, I’ll walk you through the process of setting up your custom user model from start to finish, explain why it’s essential, and show you the pitfalls you’ll want to avoid if you forget it.

By the end of this video, you’ll know exactly how to set up a custom user model that will make your Django project future-proof and scalable.

What you’ll learn in this video:

Why you should always use a custom user model in Django projects.
How to configure your custom user model quickly and efficiently, right from the start.


Timestamps:

00:00 - Why you should always set up a custom user model
Discover why a custom user model is essential for your project’s scalability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance.

00:20 - Overview: How to create a custom user model
A quick guide on the overall process of setting up a custom user model and its benefits.

00:30 - Step 1: Create a "users" app
Start by creating a dedicated app (e.g., "users") to handle user-related functionality like registration, authentication, and more.

00:43 - Step 2: Import AbstractUser in models.py
Learn how to import Django's built-in AbstractUser class, which makes it simple to extend the default user model.

00:58 - Step 3: Define your custom user model and subclass AbstractUser
How to define your custom user model and subclass AbstractUser so you can easily add custom fields and behavior.

01:10 - Step 4: Register your "users" app in settings.py
Learn how to add your users app to INSTALLED_APPS in settings.py to make sure Django knows about it.

01:24 - Tell Django about your custom user model (AUTH_USER_MODEL)
Update the AUTH_USER_MODEL setting in settings.py to point to your custom user model, ensuring proper integration.

01:48 - Enjoy your future-proofed app
Congratulations! You’ve now got a custom user model, making your app more flexible and easy to extend as your project grows.

01:58 - What happens if you forget to define a custom user model?
Understand the potential headaches and limitations of using the default Django user model, and why setting up a custom user model from the beginning is crucial.



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