this isnstalls python venv conda create -n NoteCards python=3.6 anaconda # create virtual env source activate NoteCards pip install Django pip install pylint_django in vscode settings; "python.linting.pylintArgs": [ "--load-plugins=pylint_django" ], migrating DB tables: python3 manage.py migrate playing with tables in shell python3 manage.py shell from processor.models import PdfPack >>> from processor.models import PdfPack >>> pack = PdfPack(desc="hello", document=NULL) Traceback (most recent call last): File "<console>", line 1, in <module> NameError: name 'NULL' is not defined >>> pack = PdfPack(desc="hello") >>> pack.desc >>> hello >>> pack.desc = "woof" >>> pack.save() # stores in DB Testing: python3 manage.py test processor # with verbosity: python3 manage.py test processor --verbosity=2