Getting started with Django can seem daunting at first, but with this step-by-step guide, you'll be able to create a robust web application in no time. First, ensure that you have Python installed on your machine, as Django is a Python web framework. To begin, open your terminal and use pip to install Django with the following command: pip install django. Once it's installed, you can verify the installation by checking the Django version using django-admin --version.

Next, you'll want to create your first Django project. Use the command django-admin startproject myproject to generate a new project directory. Inside this directory, you'll find essential files like settings.py and urls.py. To start the development server, navigate into your project folder with cd myproject and run python manage.py runserver. You can then access your new Django project by opening a web browser and typing http://127.0.0.1:8000/, where you'll see the default welcome page.

When it comes to styling your web applications built with Django, leveraging the Django templating engine effectively can make a significant difference. One essential tip is to utilize static files efficiently. Organize your CSS, JavaScript, and image files within the static directory in your Django app. This allows you to access them easily in your templates using the {% load static %} tag, ensuring that your styling is consistent and scalable across all pages.

Another crucial aspect is to embrace CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS. These frameworks offer comprehensive styling options and responsive design, which can enhance the user experience significantly. To integrate such frameworks, include the appropriate CSS file in your base template. Additionally, use custom styles sparingly to maintain a clean and intuitive design. Remember, maintaining the balance between custom styles and framework styles is key to a polished web application.

Django, a powerful web framework, is not immune to errors that can perplex both beginners and seasoned developers alike. One common error is the ‘ImproperlyConfigured’ exception, which often arises due to misconfigurations in your settings. To fix this, ensure that your settings.py accurately reflects your project structure and that all necessary apps are included in the INSTALLED_APPS list. Additionally, check for missing environment variables or incorrect database settings, which are often the culprits.

Another frequent issue is the ‘DoesNotExist’ error, which occurs when a query is made for an object that doesn’t exist in the database. To mitigate this, you can handle the exception gracefully by using try-except blocks or by employing the get_object_or_404() method, which provides a user-friendly 404 page when an object isn’t found. Furthermore, always ensure your database entries are up-to-date, and utilize querysets wisely to avoid unnecessary queries that could lead to this error.