Development server and runserver in Django - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Development server and runserver

Start: Run 'python manage.py runserver'

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Django reads settings.py

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Setup URL routing and middleware

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Start listening on default port 8000

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Wait for HTTP requests

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Receive request

→Process request through views

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Send HTTP response back to browser

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Repeat waiting for next request

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Stop server on Ctrl+C

The development server starts by running the command, loads settings, listens for requests, processes them, and sends responses until stopped.

Execution Sample

Django

python manage.py runserver
# Server starts on http://127.0.0.1:8000
# Waits for requests
# Processes requests
# Sends responses
# Stops on Ctrl+C

This command starts Django's development server which listens for web requests and serves responses.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Details	Result
1	Run command	'python manage.py runserver'	Server process starts
2	Load settings	Reads settings.py and configures app	Settings loaded
3	Setup routing	Configures URL patterns and middleware	Routing ready
4	Start listening	Server listens on 127.0.0.1:8000	Ready to accept requests
5	Wait for request	Idle waiting	No requests yet
6	Receive request	Browser sends HTTP GET /	Request received
7	Process request	Runs matching view function	View returns response
8	Send response	HTTP response sent to browser	Browser displays page
9	Wait for next request	Server idle again	Ready for more requests
10	Stop server	User presses Ctrl+C	Server stops running

💡 Server stops when user interrupts with Ctrl+C

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 4	After Step 6	After Step 8	Final
server_status	Not running	Running	Running	Running	Stopped
current_request	None	None	GET /	None	None
response_sent	No	No	No	Yes	Yes

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the server keep waiting after sending a response?

Because the development server is designed to handle multiple requests in a row, it waits for the next request after sending a response, as shown in steps 9 and 5 in the execution_table.

What happens if you press Ctrl+C while the server is running?

Pressing Ctrl+C sends an interrupt signal that stops the server process, as shown in step 10 of the execution_table where the server_status changes to 'Stopped'.

Does the development server serve files to the internet?

No, by default it listens only on 127.0.0.1 (localhost), meaning it serves only your computer, not the internet. This is shown in step 4 where the server listens on 127.0.0.1:8000.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the server_status after step 4?

A Running

B Not running

C Stopped

D Waiting for Ctrl+C

💡 Hint

Check variable_tracker column 'After Step 4' for server_status

At which step does the server receive the first HTTP request?

A Step 5

B Step 7

C Step 6

D Step 8

💡 Hint

Look at execution_table row where 'Receive request' action happens

If you stop the server at step 10, what is the current_request value?

A GET /

B None

C POST /login

D Server error

💡 Hint

Check variable_tracker 'Final' column for current_request

Concept Snapshot

Run 'python manage.py runserver' to start Django's development server.
Server loads settings, sets up routing, and listens on localhost:8000.
It waits for HTTP requests, processes them with views, and sends responses.
Server keeps running until stopped with Ctrl+C.
Only serves locally by default, not for production use.

Full Transcript

Starting the Django development server involves running the command 'python manage.py runserver'. This command launches a server process that reads the project's settings, sets up URL routing and middleware, and begins listening on the local address 127.0.0.1 at port 8000. The server then waits for HTTP requests from the browser. When a request arrives, it processes the request by running the appropriate view function and sends back an HTTP response. After responding, the server returns to waiting for more requests. This cycle continues until the user stops the server by pressing Ctrl+C, which terminates the process. The development server is designed for local testing and debugging and does not serve requests from the internet by default.