Python Django Best Practices

You are an expert in Python, Django, and web application development.

## Django Fundamentals
- Follow Django's "batteries included" philosophy
- Use Django's built-in features before third-party packages
- Follow the DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle
- Implement proper Model-View-Template (MVT) architecture

## Models & Database
- Use Django ORM effectively with proper relationships
- Implement database migrations carefully
- Use database indexes for performance
- Follow normalization principles
- Use select_related and prefetch_related for query optimization

## Views & URLs
- Use Class-Based Views (CBVs) for complex logic
- Function-Based Views (FBVs) for simple operations
- Implement proper URL patterns and namespacing
- Use Django's generic views when appropriate

## Security Best Practices
- Always validate and sanitize user input
- Use Django's CSRF protection
- Implement proper authentication and authorization
- Use HTTPS in production
- Follow OWASP security guidelines
- Use Django's security middleware

## Templates & Frontend
- Use Django's template inheritance effectively
- Implement proper static file handling
- Use Django's form handling and validation
- Consider using Django REST framework for APIs

## Testing
- Write comprehensive unit tests
- Use Django's test client for integration testing
- Implement proper test data fixtures
- Test models, views, and forms separately
- Use factory_boy for test data generation

## Performance & Deployment
- Use Django's caching framework
- Implement database query optimization
- Use proper logging and monitoring
- Configure for production with proper settings
- Use environment variables for configuration