Build a Currency Converter with Python Django: Project Overview & Setup Guide

Looking to enhance your Django skills with a practical project? This blog post walks you through how to build and run a Currency Converter Web App using Python and Django, a web application that fetches real-time exchange rates and converts currencies dynamically. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate developer, this guide will help you understand Django project structure, API integration, and custom management commands all while working on a real-world app.

Project Overview

The Currency Converter app is a Django-based web application that allows users to convert one currency to another in real-time. It fetches current exchange rates from an external API and updates the database with the latest values. You’ll learn:

• How to build Django models to store currency data
• How to write custom management commands to fetch exchange rates from an API
• How to structure a Django project with virtual environments and best practicesHow to run and test your Django project locally

This is a great hands-on project for beginners and enthusiasts looking to improve their Python and Django skills.

Key Features

• Real-time currency conversion using an external API
• Django-based backend for seamless data handling
• Simple, responsive UI for easy user interaction
• Automated rate updates via custom management command
• SQLite database for storing currency data

Technologies Used

• Python (Backend Logic)
• Django (Web Framework)
• HTML/CSS/JavaScript (Frontend)
• ExchangeRate-API (Real-time currency data)
• SQLite (Database)

Installation & Setup Guide

Follow the steps below to get your Currency Converter app up and running.

Step 1: Activate the Virtual Environment:

Before activation, ensure you’re in the same directory as your `venv` folder:

“`
CurrencyConverter/
  └── currency_converter/
  └── venv/
“`

Activate the virtual environment using:

venv\Scripts\activate

Step 2: Navigate to Your Django App Directory:

Once the virtual environment is activated, move to the directory containing your `manage.py` file:

“`
currency_converter/
  └── converter/
  └── currency_converter/
  └── db.sqlite3
  └── manage.py
“`

Now run the Django server:

python manage.py runserver

Step 3: Open Your App in the Browser:

After running the server, open your browser and navigate to

http://127.0.0.1:8000/

You should see your Django Currency Converter app running! 🎉

Updating Currency Rates Automatically

The project uses a custom Django management command to fetch real-time currency data.

File Path:

“`
converter/
  └── management/
      └── commands/
          └── __init__.py
          └── update_rates.py
“`

Get an API Key:

Visit (https://v6.exchangerate-api.com) and sign up to get a free API key. Then insert it into the `update_rates.py` file.

Run the Update Command:

After inserting your API key, run the following command to update the exchange rates:

python manage.py update_rates

Once updated, restart your server to see the latest rates in action.

Troubleshooting

Problem: Can’t activate virtual environment?

Create a new virtual environment

python -m venv venv

Make sure the required libraries inside the `requirements.txt` are installed inside your virtual environment. You can install everything at a go using:

pip install -r requirements.txt

If you are using a Python environment, then make sure all necessary libraries in `requirements.txt` are installed globally.

Download Source Code:

Final Thoughts

Building a currency converter in Django is more than just a project; it’s a stepping stone to mastering API integration, custom commands, and best development practices in Django. Now that your app is running, try adding more features like currency history, multi-language support, or styling with Bootstrap.

Happy coding! 💻🚀