IELTS Mock Platform

Local setup

python -m venv venv
# Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
# macOS/Linux: source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python manage.py migrate
python manage.py seed_practice_library
python manage.py createsuperuser
python manage.py runserver

Copy .env.example to .env before starting. Development defaults use SQLite and the console email backend.

Production foundation

• Set DJANGO_DEBUG=False and provide a long, private DJANGO_SECRET_KEY.
• Set the public domain in DJANGO_ALLOWED_HOSTS and DJANGO_CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS.
• Set DATABASE_URL to the production PostgreSQL connection string.
• Configure the DJANGO_EMAIL_* variables for password resets and email verification.
• Use persistent storage for uploaded media. WhiteNoise serves static assets only.
• Enable DJANGO_TRUST_PROXY_HEADERS=True only when the hosting proxy reliably sets X-Forwarded-Proto.
• Start HSTS conservatively and increase it after HTTPS is confirmed across required subdomains.

Portable Docker deployment

1. Copy .env.example to .env and replace every production value, including POSTGRES_PASSWORD.
2. Run docker compose up --build -d.
3. The web container applies migrations, collects static assets, and starts Gunicorn.
4. Configure the load balancer or uptime monitor to check /health/.
5. Back up both the postgres_data and media_data volumes.

Automated verification

• CI performs migration checks, Django's deployment audit, static collection, and the full test suite.
• On Windows, run powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/check_deployment.ps1 before a release.
• Release, monitoring, backup, and rollback procedures are in DEPLOYMENT.md.
• Shared-hosting instructions for Phusion Passenger are in CPANEL_DEPLOYMENT.md.

Main routes

• / - landing page
• /accounts/login/ - login
• /accounts/dashboard/ - student dashboard
• /accounts/settings/ - student profile settings
• /exams/ - mock-test catalogue
• /admin/ - content administration