Getting Started with Django can be an exciting journey into the world of web development. Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. Before diving in, make sure you have Python installed on your machine. You can download it from the official Python website. Once Python is set up, install Django using pip, the package installer for Python, by running the command pip install django in your terminal. This will ensure you have the latest version of Django ready for your project.

After installing Django, it's time to create your first project. Open your terminal and run the command django-admin startproject myproject, replacing myproject with your desired project name. This will create a new directory containing the necessary files for your Django application. Next, navigate into your project directory with cd myproject, and start the development server using python manage.py runserver. Visit localhost:8000 in your web browser, and you should see the Django welcome page. For further learning, check out the official Django tutorial for a deeper understanding.

When developing robust web applications with Django, it’s essential to adhere to certain best practices to ensure scalability, performance, and maintainability. First and foremost, leveraging Django's built-in features such as the migration system can significantly streamline database schema changes. Additionally, structuring your project to follow the MVC pattern is vital; it encourages a clean separation of concerns, enhancing both organization and readability. Utilizing Django's class-based views can also simplify your code and promote reuse, allowing for more efficient development.

Furthermore, security should always be a priority in any web application. Implementing Django's security features, which include protection against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), SQL injection, and clickjacking, can help safeguard your application from common vulnerabilities. It's also advisable to regularly update your Django version to benefit from the latest security patches and enhancements. Finally, don’t overlook testing; incorporating unit tests and integration tests using Django's built-in testing framework ensures your application remains functional and robust through changes and updates.

When working with Django, developers often encounter common errors that can hinder the development process. One frequent issue is the "ImproperlyConfigured" error, which frequently occurs due to misconfigured settings. For example, if you forget to add an application to the INSTALLED_APPS list in your settings.py, the framework will throw this error. To troubleshoot this, ensure that every app you create is properly listed in the settings. Additionally, referencing the Django documentation can provide clarity on best practices for app configuration.

Another common error is the "Cannot import name" error, which often arises from circular imports in your code. This happens when two or more modules depend on each other, creating a dependency loop. To fix this, you can reorganize your code to avoid such dependencies, or use local imports within functions instead of at the module level. For more in-depth advice on code structure, visit Real Python's imports tutorial. By optimizing your imports, you can prevent circular dependencies and improve the maintainability of your Django applications.