[quomopete]

it's not really the same thing. the learn the hard way method is fine for learning something like python or ruby (or whatever language), but not extendable for something like django where you have to set up the db and set the method for deployment. All the other stuff is the teachers way of saying here is the best way to get this set up no matter what your os and what state of disrepair it is in because of all the other tutorials you might have done.

On a tangent, it really goes to show how heavy django development really is. Almost frustratingly so. I keep hearing that it's the web framework for developers on a deadline (it being developed by and for journalists from the get-go), but holy smokes does it take a while to get your stack set up. and for me, I've never done it all in one shot. Whenever I decide to sitdown and take a crack at django, I end up debugging the configuration for about a day and a half.