GeoDjango InstallationLink to this heading

OverviewLink to this heading

In general, GeoDjango installation requires:

  1. Python and Django

  2. Spatial database

  3. Installing Geospatial libraries

Details for each of the requirements and installation instructions are provided in the sections below. In addition, platform-specific instructions are available for:

RequirementsLink to this heading

Python and DjangoLink to this heading

Because GeoDjango is included with Django, please refer to Django’s installation instructions for details on how to install.

Spatial databaseLink to this heading

PostgreSQL (with PostGIS), MySQL (mostly with MyISAM engine), Oracle, and SQLite (with SpatiaLite) are the spatial databases currently supported.

The geospatial libraries required for a GeoDjango installation depends on the spatial database used. The following lists the library requirements, supported versions, and any notes for each of the supported database backends:

Database

Library Requirements

Supported Versions

Notes

PostgreSQL

GEOS, GDAL, PROJ.4, PostGIS

9.3+

Requires PostGIS.

MySQL

GEOS, GDAL

5.5+

Not OGC-compliant; limited functionality.

Oracle

GEOS, GDAL

11.2+

XE not supported.

SQLite

GEOS, GDAL, PROJ.4, SpatiaLite

3.6.+

Requires SpatiaLite 4.0+, pysqlite2 2.5+

See also this comparison matrix on the OSGeo Wiki for PostgreSQL/PostGIS/GEOS/GDAL possible combinations.

InstallationLink to this heading

Geospatial librariesLink to this heading

Database installationLink to this heading

Add django.contrib.gis to INSTALLED_APPSLink to this heading

Like other Django contrib applications, you will only need to add django.contrib.gis to INSTALLED_APPS in your settings. This is so that the gis templates can be located – if not done, then features such as the geographic admin or KML sitemaps will not function properly.

TroubleshootingLink to this heading

If you can’t find the solution to your problem here then participate in the community! You can:

  • Join the #geodjango IRC channel on Freenode. Please be patient and polite – while you may not get an immediate response, someone will attempt to answer your question as soon as they see it.

  • Ask your question on the GeoDjango mailing list.

  • File a ticket on the Django trac if you think there’s a bug. Make sure to provide a complete description of the problem, versions used, and specify the component as “GIS”.

Library environment settingsLink to this heading

By far, the most common problem when installing GeoDjango is that the external shared libraries (e.g., for GEOS and GDAL) cannot be located. [1] Typically, the cause of this problem is that the operating system isn’t aware of the directory where the libraries built from source were installed.

In general, the library path may be set on a per-user basis by setting an environment variable, or by configuring the library path for the entire system.

LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variableLink to this heading

A user may set this environment variable to customize the library paths they want to use. The typical library directory for software built from source is /usr/local/lib. Thus, /usr/local/lib needs to be included in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH variable. For example, the user could place the following in their bash profile:

Shell
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib

Setting system library pathLink to this heading

On GNU/Linux systems, there is typically a file in /etc/ld.so.conf, which may include additional paths from files in another directory, such as /etc/ld.so.conf.d. As the root user, add the custom library path (like /usr/local/lib) on a new line in ld.so.conf. This is one example of how to do so:

Shell
$ sudo echo /usr/local/lib >> /etc/ld.so.conf
$ sudo ldconfig

For OpenSolaris users, the system library path may be modified using the crle utility. Run crle with no options to see the current configuration and use crle -l to set with the new library path. Be very careful when modifying the system library path:

Shell
# crle -l $OLD_PATH:/usr/local/lib

Install binutilsLink to this heading

GeoDjango uses the find_library function (from the ctypes.util Python module) to discover libraries. The find_library routine uses a program called objdump (part of the binutils package) to verify a shared library on GNU/Linux systems. Thus, if binutils is not installed on your Linux system then Python’s ctypes may not be able to find your library even if your library path is set correctly and geospatial libraries were built perfectly.

The binutils package may be installed on Debian and Ubuntu systems using the following command:

Shell
$ sudo apt-get install binutils

Similarly, on Red Hat and CentOS systems:

Shell
$ sudo yum install binutils

Platform-specific instructionsLink to this heading

macOSLink to this heading

Because of the variety of packaging systems available for macOS, users have several different options for installing GeoDjango. These options are:

This section also includes instructions for installing an upgraded version of Python from packages provided by the Python Software Foundation, however, this is not required.

PythonLink to this heading

Although macOS comes with Python installed, users can use framework installers provided by the Python Software Foundation. An advantage to using the installer is that macOS’s Python will remain “pristine” for internal operating system use.

Postgres.appLink to this heading

Postgres.app is a standalone PostgreSQL server that includes the PostGIS extension. You will also need to install gdal and libgeoip with Homebrew.

After installing Postgres.app, add the following to your .bash_profile so you can run the package’s programs from the command-line. Replace X.Y with the version of PostgreSQL in the Postgres.app you installed:

Shell
export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/X.Y/bin

You can check if the path is set up correctly by typing which psql at a terminal prompt.

HomebrewLink to this heading

Homebrew provides “recipes” for building binaries and packages from source. It provides recipes for the GeoDjango prerequisites on Macintosh computers running macOS. Because Homebrew still builds the software from source, Xcode is required.

Summary:

Shell
$ brew install postgresql
$ brew install postgis
$ brew install gdal
$ brew install libgeoip

KyngChaos packagesLink to this heading

William Kyngesburye provides a number of geospatial library binary packages that make it simple to get GeoDjango installed on macOS without compiling them from source. However, Xcode is still necessary for compiling the Python database adapters psycopg2 (for PostGIS) and pysqlite2 (for SpatiaLite).

Download the framework packages for:

  • UnixImageIO

  • PROJ

  • GEOS

  • SQLite3 (includes the SpatiaLite library)

  • GDAL

Install the packages in the order they are listed above, as the GDAL and SQLite packages require the packages listed before them.

Afterwards, you can also install the KyngChaos binary packages for PostgreSQL and PostGIS.

After installing the binary packages, you’ll want to add the following to your .profile to be able to run the package programs from the command-line:

Shell
export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/UnixImageIO.framework/Programs:$PATH
export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/PROJ.framework/Programs:$PATH
export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/GEOS.framework/Programs:$PATH
export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/SQLite3.framework/Programs:$PATH
export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/GDAL.framework/Programs:$PATH
export PATH=/usr/local/pgsql/bin:$PATH
psycopg2Link to this heading

After you’ve installed the KyngChaos binaries and modified your PATH, as described above, psycopg2 may be installed using the following command:

Shell
$ pip install psycopg2
FinkLink to this heading

Kurt Schwehr has been gracious enough to create GeoDjango packages for users of the Fink package system. Different packages are available (starting with django-gis), depending on which version of Python you want to use.

MacPortsLink to this heading

MacPorts may be used to install GeoDjango prerequisites on computers running macOS. Because MacPorts still builds the software from source, Xcode is required.

Summary:

Shell
$ sudo port install postgresql93-server
$ sudo port install geos
$ sudo port install proj
$ sudo port install postgis
$ sudo port install gdal +geos
$ sudo port install libgeoip

WindowsLink to this heading

Proceed through the following sections sequentially in order to install GeoDjango on Windows.

PythonLink to this heading

Install Python.

PostgreSQLLink to this heading

First, download the latest PostgreSQL 9.x installer from the EnterpriseDB website. After downloading, simply run the installer, follow the on-screen directions, and keep the default options unless you know the consequences of changing them.

When the installer completes, it will ask to launch the Application Stack Builder (ASB) on exit – keep this checked, as it is necessary to install PostGIS.

PostGISLink to this heading

From within the Application Stack Builder (to run outside of the installer, Start ‣ Programs ‣ PostgreSQL 9.x), select PostgreSQL Database Server 9.x on port 5432 from the drop down menu. Next, expand the Categories ‣ Spatial Extensions menu tree and select PostGIS X.Y for PostgreSQL 9.x.

After clicking next, you will be prompted to select your mirror, PostGIS will be downloaded, and the PostGIS installer will begin. Select only the default options during install (e.g., do not uncheck the option to create a default PostGIS database).

psycopg2Link to this heading

The psycopg2 Python module provides the interface between Python and the PostgreSQL database. Download the latest Windows installer for your version of Python and PostgreSQL and run using the default settings. [2]

OSGeo4WLink to this heading

The OSGeo4W installer makes it simple to install the PROJ.4, GDAL, and GEOS libraries required by GeoDjango. First, download the OSGeo4W installer, and run it. Select Express Web-GIS Install and click next. In the ‘Select Packages’ list, ensure that GDAL is selected; MapServer and Apache are also enabled by default, but are not required by GeoDjango and may be unchecked safely. After clicking next, the packages will be automatically downloaded and installed, after which you may exit the installer.

Modify Windows environmentLink to this heading

In order to use GeoDjango, you will need to add your Python and OSGeo4W directories to your Windows system Path, as well as create GDAL_DATA and PROJ_LIB environment variables. The following set of commands, executable with cmd.exe, will set this up:

Bat
set OSGEO4W_ROOT=C:\OSGeo4W
set PYTHON_ROOT=C:\Python27
set GDAL_DATA=%OSGEO4W_ROOT%\share\gdal
set PROJ_LIB=%OSGEO4W_ROOT%\share\proj
set PATH=%PATH%;%PYTHON_ROOT%;%OSGEO4W_ROOT%\bin
reg ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v Path /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /f /d "%PATH%"
reg ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v GDAL_DATA /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /f /d "%GDAL_DATA%"
reg ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v PROJ_LIB /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /f /d "%PROJ_LIB%"

For your convenience, these commands are available in the executable batch script, geodjango_setup.bat.

Install Django and set up databaseLink to this heading

Finally, install Django on your system.

Footnotes