For easier collaboration I changed the directory structure of an existing django-project like this:
├── docs
├── manage.py
├── requirements.txt
├── static
│ └── my_app
│ ├── css
│ ├── fonts
│ ├── img
│ └── js
├── templates
│ └── my_app
└── proj_name
├── apps
│ └── my_app
│ ⋮
│ └── views.py
├── settings
│ └── base.py
├── urls.py
└── wsgi.py
Part of the settings-file base.py
BASE_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))), '..')
# SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
DEBUG = True
# SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
SECRET_KEY = 'the actual secret key'
Using manage.py throws errors
python manage.py makemigrations
django.core.exceptions.AppRegistryNotReady: Apps aren't loaded yet.
To figure out the problem more exactly I ran check which actually throws a different error
python manage.py check
django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: The SECRET_KEY setting must not be empty.
Before changing the directory-structure the project worked.
How to change the path for django-project settings-file?
Directory restructuring inspired by Best practice for Django project working directory structure
