Django + Python + PHP(optional) + Lighttpd on Debian etch

Couldn't find any great howto, so here's how I did it:

It's a good idea to update apt-get:

apt-get update

I didn't want apache running on my system:

apache2ctl stop
update-rc.d -f apache2 remove

Install lighttpd:

apt-get install lighttpd

Uncomment these lines from /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf:

server.pid-file = "/var/run/lighttpd.pid"
"mod_fastcgi",
"mod_rewrite",

---

If you want PHP support:

apt-get install php5-cgi

Add this line to the bottom of /etc/php5/cgi/php.ini

cgi.fix_pathinfo = 1

Add index.php:

index-file.names = ( "index.php", "index.html",
"index.htm", "default.htm" )

Add this to the bottom of vim /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf:

fastcgi.server = (
".php" => ((
"bin-path" => "/usr/bin/php5-cgi",
"socket" => "/tmp/php.socket"
))
)

---

Python / Django support:

I like python 2.5.1:

apt-get install python2.5-dev
which python
cd to location of python binary
ls -lh (make sure python is a symlink)
rm python
ln -s python2.5 python

subversion to get django (also just a useful tool to have)

apt-get install subversion

Make a dir to hold all your install files:

mkdir /var/installers
cd /var/installers

Download & install:

wget http://peak.telecommunity.com/dist/ez_setup.py
python ez_setup.py

Get flup for python support:

wget http://www.saddi.com/software/flup/dist/flup-0.5-py2.5.egg
easy_install flup-0.5-py2.5.egg

Django:

svn co http://code.djangoproject.com/svn/django/trunk/ ./django-trunk/
cd ./djano-trunk
python setup.py install

Edit /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf and change fastcgi.server to:

fastcgi.server = (
".php" => ((
"bin-path" => "/usr/bin/php5-cgi",
"socket" => "/tmp/php.socket"
)),
"/django.fcgi" => (
"main" => (
"host" => "127.0.0.1",
"port" => 9090, #set the port numbers to what-eva you want
),
),
"/admin.fcgi" => (
"admin" => (
"host" => "127.0.0.1",
"port" => 9091,
)
)
)

(notice php support - that's optional)


Add rewrite rules to lighttpd.conf:

url.rewrite-once = (
"^(/media.*)$" => "$1",
"^(/static.*)$" => "$1",
"^/favicon\.ico$" => "/media/favicon.ico",
"^(/admin/.*)$" => "/admin.fcgi$1",
"^(/.*)$" => "/django.fcgi$1"
)

Now make blank dummy files to prevent Lighttpd 404 errors:

vim /var/www/django.fcgi
vim /var/www/admin.fcgi

Now make a django project directory (www):

mkdir /var/django
cd /var/django

make a test project:

django-admin.py startproject testproject

start the project:

cd ./testproject
python manage.py runfcgi method=prefork host=127.0.0.1 port=9090 pidfile=django.pid

Note - using port 127.0.0.1 for runfcgi doesn't limit lighttpd to only that interface. It's used for communication between lighttpd & runfcgi

now test!
http://your_server_ip


Mysql support (haven't tested to see if this works):
I run my database on a separate server, if you don't, you'll need to set up mysql server as well. There are plenty of HOWTOS on that, try googling around.

apt-get install mysql-client

(will add config instructions later, once I do them)

Install MySQLdb, which lets python easily talk to mysql (haven't yet tested/configured this):

apt-get install python-mysqldb

An adventure in the fourth dimension...

I recently watched this insightful video of a presentation by Cliff Stoll at a recent TED conference.

I liked the video so much, I wanted to show my appreciation. I've decided to support Cliff's store - www.kleinbottle.com. I was going to buy a bottle - but why settle for that when you purchase an everyday wearable item... the Klein hat.

I have to admit... there is a bit of false advertising here. Cliff isn't actually selling Klein bottles, since it intersects itself (this creates an edge). Instead, you can think of it as a mobius strip (one side, one edge) - distorted to represent a Klein bottle in only 3 dimensions. A true Klein bottle needs a fourth division so that it does not intersect itself.

Come to think of it... since I can't observe the fourth spatial dimension... maybe this IS a true Klein bottle... hmmm... If so, I look forward the mind altering effects of wearing something that can only exist in four dimensions.

Either way, though, I'm pleased - it will at least make for some interesting looks as I walk around campus.