Adrian announced today that he’s working on revising The Definitive Guide to Django to produce a second edition that covers Django 1.0, which is awesome news for anyone who’s used the book as a guide to learning Django.
In the same vein, I’d like to announce something that’s been unofficially mentioned a couple times but never fully clarified: I’m busy working on the second edition of Practical Django Projects, which will also cover Django 1.0 (and maybe a feature or two from Django 1.1, depending on how the writing schedule works out).
With the first edition, I learned a lot about how to write a book, and also a lot about how not to write a book. Aiming for the moving target of Django just prior to 1.0 was probably a bad idea, but unfortunately that’s the way the schedule happened (waiting any longer to publish would have delayed the book into sometime this year, from what I can tell). And while in theory the book was supposed to be accompanied by a source-code download for the applications it covered, the need to bring that code into line with changes before 1.0 (and then bring it up to 1.0) meant that a working download would have made no sense — either I’d have to provide code people couldn’t use with a current Django, or I’d have had to rewrite large sections of the book to include alongside it, explaining why the code looked different. Either way, it’d suck.
Fortunately, we now have a stable, backwards-compatible Django codebase, so that shouldn’t be a problem the second time around (and I’ve got some neat plans for handling the book’s accompanying code, which hopefully I’ll get to unveil in a little while).
I don’t yet know when the second edition will go to press, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be in the first half of this year. So keep an eye out; it’ll also include at least one completely new chapter, so even folks who’ve seen copies of the first edition should be able to get something new out of it.
Just a quick addendum: a couple folks have asked whether buyers of the first edition will get free copies of the second since the original went out of date so quickly and since I was never able to produce a useful code package for it (since by 1.0 time, only a full rewrite could provide the necessary explanations behind the workings any updated code samples). So far as I know the answer is no, but it’s not my place to make that call (since Apress needs to stay in business, and will have given away two complete books when Adrian finishes up) and asking me for it won’t do any good, so I’ve removed those comments.
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I’m glad to hear it’s being updated; as with The Django Book, having something more that I can hand out to friends & co-workers in an effort to get them into Django is only a good thing.
The book itself was great - though I’d like to see another project in there, or an expansion of the existing projects (even if it costs more!).
As for buyers of the first book; if not a copy of the second book, perhaps a source-code download (only) or an upgrade scheme (ie. reduced cost?) - you might be able to suggest those to Apress.
This is good news! I’ve found working through an outdated Practical Django Projects has helped me get even more out of book, because of the extra puzzles ;)
Excellent news, James. My approach to developing in Django has improved significantly as a direct result of reading the first edition of Practical Django Projects, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with in the second edition.
Given the (relative) nearness of Django 1.1, I hope your writing schedule will end up allowing some coverage of Django 1.1 features. I’ll no doubt upgrade my printed copy even if there is no mention of 1.1, but I suspect you’ll sell more copies if you are able to explicitly target the current (at the time of publication) version of Django.
If you need volunteers for proof-reading, etc, I’m sure I’m not the only one willing to help out…
It’s great to hear about the new edition. I really liked how simple and useful the first version was and it will be great to have it updated to Django 1.0. Congrats!
any idea when the new edition will come out?
Kudos!
Great news this is. I’m really happy there will be an update.
@gravesit: He said he has no idea, but it will be in the first half of this year.
Yes, I learned some new ways to think about django, while reading your book, even though the source code was not there. I’m still digesting the ideas, to tell you the truth. I’ve written two small sites using what I learned from the a) on-line book, and b) the big nerd ranch class, and your book extended those ideas - so thanks.
Your book was the first I had purchased in a long time and quite honestly I felt quite shafted after purchasing it and reading the first couple chapters and trying to hammer out the code.
Luckily Magus (yes the guy everyone loves to hate) and a few others in #django helped me see the light and work past the differences.
Since then I’ve purchased 2 other django books and realized that the wealth of information you provided far surpassed anything in the other two books even though snippets were out-dated.
So all that to say I will likely purchase your new book when it arrives and appreciate you passing on your knowledge.