# Django 2.0.14.dev20190701080343 documentation

# GeoDjango Installation

## Overview

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:

- macOS
- 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, GDAL, PROJ.4, PostGIS | 9.3+ | Requires PostGIS.
MySQL | GEOS, GDAL | 5.5+ | Not OGC-compliant; limited functionality.
Oracle | GEOS, GDAL | 12.1+ | XE not supported.
SQLite | GEOS, GDAL, PROJ.4, SpatiaLite | 3.6.+ | Requires SpatiaLite 4.0+

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

### `DATABASES` configuration

Set the `ENGINE` setting to one of the spatial backends.

### 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

### macOS

Because of the variety of packaging systems available for macOS, 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 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.

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 macOS. Because Homebrew still builds the software from source, Xcode is 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 macOS without compiling them from source. However, Xcode is still necessary for compiling the Python database adapters psycopg2 (for PostGIS).

Note

SpatiaLite users should consult the macOS-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 computers running macOS. Because MacPorts still builds the software from source, Xcode is 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.

#### Python

Install Python.

#### 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 PostgreSQL 9.x start menu group will created and contains shortcuts for the ASB as well as the ‘SQL Shell’, which will launch a `psql` command window.

#### PostGIS

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).

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 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 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:\Python3X
    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%"

Note

Administrator privileges are required to execute these commands. To do this, create a `bat` script with the commands, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. 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.