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Proyecto uses PostgreSQL as its primary database backend. This guide walks you through installing PostgreSQL and configuring your database connection.

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PostgreSQL Installation

1

Install PostgreSQL

Install PostgreSQL on your system:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib
2

Start PostgreSQL Service

Ensure PostgreSQL is running:
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo systemctl start postgresql
sudo systemctl enable postgresql

# Check status
sudo systemctl status postgresql
3

Access PostgreSQL Shell

Switch to the postgres user and access the PostgreSQL shell:
sudo -u postgres psql
4

Create Database

Create the Proyecto database:
CREATE DATABASE "Proyecto";
The database name is case-sensitive and must match the NAME setting in your Django configuration.
5

Create Database User (Optional)

For production, create a dedicated database user:
CREATE USER proyecto_user WITH PASSWORD 'secure_password';
ALTER ROLE proyecto_user SET client_encoding TO 'utf8';
ALTER ROLE proyecto_user SET default_transaction_isolation TO 'read committed';
ALTER ROLE proyecto_user SET timezone TO 'UTC';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE "Proyecto" TO proyecto_user;
Replace secure_password with a strong, randomly generated password.

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Database Configuration

Configure your database connection in proyecto/settings.py:
proyecto/settings.py
DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
        'NAME': 'Proyecto',
        'USER': 'postgres',
        'PASSWORD': '1204',
        'HOST': 'localhost',
        'PORT': '5432',
        'ATOMIC_REQUESTS': True,
    }
}

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Configuration Parameters

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ENGINE
string
required
Database backend engine. Proyecto uses django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2 for PostgreSQL support.
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NAME
string
required
Database name. Default is Proyecto.
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USER
string
required
Database user with access privileges. Default is postgres.
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PASSWORD
string
required
Database password for authentication.
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HOST
string
default:"localhost"
Database server hostname or IP address.
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PORT
string
default:"5432"
PostgreSQL server port.
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ATOMIC_REQUESTS
boolean
default:"True"
When set to True, wraps each view in a database transaction. This ensures data consistency by automatically rolling back changes if an exception occurs.
Use environment variables for sensitive database credentials instead of hardcoding them in settings.py.

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Install Database Adapter

Install the PostgreSQL adapter for Python: 
pip install psycopg2==2.9.5
This package is included in requirements.txt and provides the PostgreSQL database adapter for Django.

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Running Migrations

After configuring your database, apply migrations to create the necessary tables:
1

Make Migrations

Generate migration files for your models:
python manage.py makemigrations
2

Apply Migrations

Apply all pending migrations:
python manage.py migrate
This creates all required database tables, including:
  • Django’s built-in tables (auth, sessions, admin)
  • CTP application tables
3

Create Superuser

Create an admin user to access the Django admin interface:
python manage.py createsuperuser

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Environment Variables

For production deployments, use environment variables for database credentials:
proyecto/settings.py
import os

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
        'NAME': os.environ.get('DB_NAME', 'Proyecto'),
        'USER': os.environ.get('DB_USER', 'postgres'),
        'PASSWORD': os.environ.get('DB_PASSWORD'),
        'HOST': os.environ.get('DB_HOST', 'localhost'),
        'PORT': os.environ.get('DB_PORT', '5432'),
        'ATOMIC_REQUESTS': True,
    }
}
Set environment variables: 
export DB_NAME="Proyecto"
export DB_USER="proyecto_user"
export DB_PASSWORD="your_secure_password"
export DB_HOST="localhost"
export DB_PORT="5432"

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Database Backup

Regular backups are critical for data protection. Always test your backup restoration process.

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Create a Backup

pg_dump -U postgres -h localhost -d Proyecto > proyecto_backup.sql

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Restore from Backup

psql -U postgres -h localhost -d Proyecto < proyecto_backup.sql

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Automated Backups

Create a cron job for daily backups: 
# Edit crontab
crontab -e

# Add daily backup at 2 AM
0 2 * * * pg_dump -U postgres -d Proyecto > /backups/proyecto_$(date +\%Y\%m\%d).sql
Store backups in a separate location from your database server for disaster recovery.

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Connection Testing

Verify your database connection: 
python manage.py dbshell
This opens a PostgreSQL shell connected to your configured database. You can run SQL queries to verify connectivity: 
\dt  -- List all tables
\q  -- Quit

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Troubleshooting

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Connection Refused

If you see connection errors, check:
  1. PostgreSQL is running: sudo systemctl status postgresql
  2. PostgreSQL is listening on the correct port: sudo netstat -plnt | grep 5432
  3. pg_hba.conf allows local connections

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Authentication Failed

Verify database credentials: 
psql -U postgres -d Proyecto -h localhost
If this fails, reset the postgres user password: 
sudo -u postgres psql
\password postgres

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Database Does Not Exist

Create the database if it doesn’t exist: 
sudo -u postgres createdb Proyecto

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