Welcome to the exciting world of Flask web applications! If you’re ready to embark on your next development adventure using the FlaskDash starter app v1.7, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the setup process, functionality, and troubleshooting, ensuring a smooth sailing experience as you build your web application.
Understanding FlaskDash Starter App
The FlaskDash starter app is like a well-organized toolbox ready for your DIY project. It provides you with a solid foundation based on the amazing work of Ling Thio, complete with the CoreUI admin Bootstrap theme, user management features, and a dedicated view file for API code.
Key Features at a Glance
- Compatible with Python 2.6 through 3.8
- Well-structured directory with extensive documentation
- Includes testing frameworks (py.test and tox)
- Database migration support with Alembic
- Email notifications for unhandled exceptions
Setting Up Your Development Environment
Before diving into the code, ensure you have Git, Virtualenv, and Virtualenvwrapper installed. Let’s get started!
# Clone the repository into ~/dev/my_app
mkdir -p ~/dev
cd ~/dev
git clone https://github.com/twintechlabs/flaskdash.git my_app
# Create the my_app virtual environment
mkvirtualenv -p PATHTOPYTHON my_app
# Install required Python packages
cd ~/dev/my_app
workon my_app
pip install -r requirements.txt
Configuring SMTP
Edit your local_settings.py file to configure your email settings. For Google SMTP, ensure you’ve enabled access for less secure apps by visiting this link. If you’re using Yahoo SMTP, refer to this guide.
Initializing the Database
To set up your database tables properly, run the following command:
# Create DB tables and populate roles and users
python manage.py init_db
# Or if you have Fabric installed:
fab init_db
Running the App
In Development Mode
Launch the app by entering:
# Start the Flask development web server
python manage.py runserver
# Or with Fabric:
fab runserver
Access the application locally at http://localhost:5000. You can log in using:
- Member: member@example.com with password Password1
- Admin: admin@example.com with password Password1
In Production Mode
For production, utilize Gunicorn:
# Run the application in production mode
./runserver.sh
Running Automated Tests
To ensure your code is working smoothly, execute:
# Start automated tests
py.test tests
# Or with Fabric:
fab test
Working with Server-side Sessions
Avoid using server-side session data unless absolutely necessary. Keeping requests stateless simplifies debugging and maintenance. However, if sessions are needed, FlaskDash includes Flask-Session, configurable to use SQLAlchemy, Redis, or MongoDB.
# Example of using sessions
session[key] = value
val = session.get(key, not set)
print(val)
value = session.get(key2, not set)
print(val)
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter database schema issues after modifying models, consider deleting the SQLite DB file app.sqlite. This will clear any conflicts and allow a fresh start.
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Conclusion
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Happy coding with your FlaskDash application!