Recipe App
A Case Study in Full-Stack Python Development
Project Pitch:
This project was a comprehensive journey through the Python ecosystem, beginning as a simple command-line application and evolving into a full-stack, deployed web application...
My Role
Sole Developer
Responsible for database design, backend logic, frontend views, and deployment.
Duration
~8 Weeks
(May 2025 – June 2025)
Tech Stack
- Python
- Django
- PostgreSQL (Production)
- MySQL (Development)
- SQLAlchemy (Initial Phase)
- Heroku, Gunicorn, WhiteNoise
The Process & Challenges
The project was split into two main achievements: first, building a robust command-line tool with a proper database, and second, migrating that logic to a full-stack web framework (Django) and deploying it.
Challenge 1: Data Persistence: Evolving from Files to a Relational DB
Problem: The project started as a command-line app (Achievement 1) that needed to persist data. The initial version used Python's pickle module, which is insecure and not scalable.
Solution: I first migrated the app to use a MySQL database, interfacing with it using the SQLAlchemy ORM...
Visual Proof: Data Model Evolution
Challenge 2: Architecture: Migrating to a Full-Stack Django App
Problem: The command-line app needed to be accessible on the web. This required a complete architectural shift to a web framework.
Solution: I rebuilt the application from the ground up using the Django framework...
Visual Proof: Django Class-Based Views
Challenge 3: Security & Deployment: User Authentication and Production
Problem: The app needed to be secure, ensuring users could only see and edit their own recipes. It also needed to be deployed live to the web.
Solution: I implemented Django's built-in authentication system to create secure user registration...
Visual Proof: User Authentication
The Final Solution
The final product is a secure, deployed, full-stack Django application. Users can register, log in, and perform full CRUD operations on their personal recipe collection.
Key Learnings & Future Steps
Key Learnings
This project was a foundational lesson in data modeling, framework architecture (Django), and the complexities of migrating from a simple script to a production-ready web service.
Future Steps
The next steps are to enhance the feature set:
- Add image uploading for recipe photos
- Implement a "shopping list" generator
- Create a public-facing page to browse recipes
