Overview
In general, GeoDjango installation requires:
- Python and Django
- Spatial database
- 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:
- Mac OS X
- Windows
Use the Source
Because GeoDjango takes advantage of the latest in the open source geospatial software technology, recent versions of the libraries are necessary. If binary packages aren’t available for your platform, installation from source may be required. When compiling the libraries from source, please follow the directions closely, especially if you’re a beginner.
Requirements
Python and Django
Because GeoDjango is included with Django, please refer to Django’s installation instructions for details on how to install.
Spatial database
PostgreSQL (with PostGIS), MySQL (mostly with MyISAM engine), Oracle, and SQLite (with SpatiaLite) are the spatial databases currently supported.
Note
PostGIS is recommended, because it is the most mature and feature-rich open source spatial database.
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, PROJ.4, PostGIS | 9.2+ | Requires PostGIS. |
MySQL | GEOS | 5.5+ | Not OGC-compliant; limited functionality. |
Oracle | GEOS | 11.2+ | XE not supported. |
SQLite | GEOS, GDAL, PROJ.4, SpatiaLite | 3.6.+ | Requires SpatiaLite 3.0+, pysqlite2 2.5+ |
See also this comparison matrix on the OSGeo Wiki for PostgreSQL/PostGIS/GEOS/GDAL possible combinations.
Installation
Geospatial libraries
- Installing Geospatial libraries
Database installation
- Installing PostGIS
- Installing SpatiaLite
Add django.contrib.gis
to INSTALLED_APPS
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.
Troubleshooting
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 settings
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 variable
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:
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib
Setting system library path
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:
$ 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:
# crle -l $OLD_PATH:/usr/local/lib
Install binutils
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:
$ sudo apt-get install binutils
Similarly, on Red Hat and CentOS systems:
$ sudo yum install binutils
Platform-specific instructions
Mac OS X
Because of the variety of packaging systems available for OS X, users have several different options for installing GeoDjango. These options are:
- Postgres.app (easiest and recommended)
- Homebrew
- KyngChaos packages
- Fink
- MacPorts
- Building from source
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.
Python
Although OS X comes with Python installed, users can use framework installers provided by the Python Software Foundation. An advantage to using the installer is that OS X’s Python will remain “pristine” for internal operating system use.
Note
You will need to modify the PATH
environment variable in your .profile
file so that the new version of Python is used when python
is entered at the command-line:
export PATH=/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/Current/bin:$PATH
Postgres.app
Postgres.app is a standalone PostgreSQL server that includes the PostGIS extension. You will also need to install gdal
and libgeoip
with Homebrew.
After installing Postgres.app, add the following to your .bash_profile
so you can run the package’s programs from the command-line. Replace X.Y
with the version of PostgreSQL in the Postgres.app you installed:
export PATH=$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.
Homebrew
Homebrew provides “recipes” for building binaries and packages from source. It provides recipes for the GeoDjango prerequisites on Macintosh computers running OS X. Because Homebrew still builds the software from source, the Apple Developer Tools are required.
Summary:
$ brew install postgresql $ brew install postgis $ brew install gdal $ brew install libgeoip
KyngChaos packages
William Kyngesburye provides a number of geospatial library binary packages that make it simple to get GeoDjango installed on OS X without compiling them from source. However, the Apple Developer Tools are still necessary for compiling the Python database adapters psycopg2 (for PostGIS) and pysqlite2 (for SpatiaLite).
Note
SpatiaLite users should consult the Mac OS X-specific instructions section after installing the packages for additional instructions.
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:
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
psycopg2
After you’ve installed the KyngChaos binaries and modified your PATH
, as described above, psycopg2
may be installed using the following command:
$ pip install psycopg2
Note
If you don’t have pip
, follow the installation instructions to install it.
Fink
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.
MacPorts
MacPorts may be used to install GeoDjango prerequisites on Macintosh computers running OS X. Because MacPorts still builds the software from source, the Apple Developer Tools are required.
Summary:
$ 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
Note
You will also have to modify the PATH
in your .profile
so that the MacPorts programs are accessible from the command-line:
export PATH=/opt/local/bin:/opt/local/lib/postgresql93/bin
In addition, add the DYLD_FALLBACK_LIBRARY_PATH
setting so that the libraries can be found by Python:
export DYLD_FALLBACK_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/local/lib:/opt/local/lib/postgresql93
Windows
Proceed through the following sections sequentially in order to install GeoDjango on Windows.
Note
These instructions assume that you are using 32-bit versions of all programs. While 64-bit versions of Python and PostgreSQL 9.x are available, 64-bit versions of spatial libraries, like GEOS and GDAL, are not yet provided by the OSGeo4W installer.
Python
First, download the latest Python 2.7 installer from the Python website. Next, run the installer and keep the defaults – for example, keep ‘Install for all users’ checked and the installation path set as C:\Python27
.
Note
You may already have a version of Python installed in C:\python
as ESRI products sometimes install a copy there. You should still install a fresh version of Python 2.7.
PostgreSQL
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.
Note
The PostgreSQL installer creates both a new Windows user to be the ‘postgres service account’ and a postgres
database superuser You will be prompted once to set the password for both accounts – make sure to remember it!
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.
Note
If installed successfully, the PostgreSQL server will run in the background each time the system as started as a Windows service. A psql
command window.
PostGIS
From within the Application Stack Builder (to run outside of the installer,
), select from the drop down menu. Next, expand the menu tree and select .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).
Note
You will be prompted to enter your postgres
database superuser password in the ‘Database Connection Information’ dialog.
psycopg2
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]
OSGeo4W
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 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 environment
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:
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
.
Note
Administrator privileges are required to execute these commands. To do this, right-click on geodjango_setup.bat
and select . You need to log out and log back in again for the settings to take effect.
Note
If you customized the Python or OSGeo4W installation directories, then you will need to modify the OSGEO4W_ROOT
and/or PYTHON_ROOT
variables accordingly.
Install Django and set up database
Finally, install Django on your system.
Footnotes
[1] | GeoDjango uses the find_library() routine from ctypes.util to locate shared libraries. |
[2] | The psycopg2 Windows installers are packaged and maintained by Jason Erickson. |
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