Unable to start a django server in my computer

Question

I exported the path of my django project by

$ export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=/Users/masi/Documents/Test/djangobook/ch3.settings

I run unsuccessfully

$ django-admin.py runserver 
Error: Could not import settings '/Users/masi/Documents/Test/djangobook/ch3.settings' (Is it on sys.path? Does it have syntax errors?): Import by filename is not supported.

How can you start Django server without the error message?

Answer 1

Your $DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE should just be set to ch3.settings. Just make sure that the ch3 app is in your $PYTHONPATH, too.

For example, if your app is at /Users/masi/Documents/Test/djangobook/, then set $DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE to ch3.settings, and make sure your $PYTHONPATH includes /Users/masi/Documents/Test/djangobook.

$ export PYTHONPATH=/Users/masi/Documents/Test/djangobook/
$ export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=ch3.settings