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John Samuel
John Samuel

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I got tired of setting up Django projects, so I built Okepy 🦓

#opensource #python #django #buildinpublic

Every time I started a new Python backend project, I found myself doing the same things over and over again.

  • Create a virtual environment.
  • Install dependencies.
  • Create the project.
  • Configure settings.
  • Add authentication.
  • Configure JWT.
  • Add CORS.
  • Set up Docker.
  • Configure Swagger.
  • Wire everything together.

None of these tasks are difficult—they're just repetitive.

Then I thought:

What if Python had something that felt like create-vite?

That's how Okepy was born.

Okepy is a CLI that helps you scaffold production-ready Python backend projects in seconds.

Instead of manually setting everything up, you answer a few interactive questions, and Okepy generates a ready-to-use project.

uvx okepy create
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You'll be guided through a setup like:

◇ What are you building?
│ API
│ Full-stack SSR
│ Hybrid

◇ Framework?
│ Django
│ FastAPI
│ Flask

◇ Authentication?
☑ Email & Password
☑ Google
☑ GitHub
☑ JWT

◇ Database?
PostgreSQL
SQLite
MySQL
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Then Okepy handles the tedious setup for you.

The vision

I don't want this to become another Django boilerplate.

The goal is much bigger.

I want Okepy to become the modern starting point for Python backend development—the equivalent of what Vite did for frontend projects.

Eventually it will support multiple frameworks including:

  • Django
  • FastAPI
  • Flask
  • Litestar
  • Quart
  • Sanic

with modular features like:

  • Authentication
  • Social login
  • JWT
  • Docker
  • Celery
  • Redis
  • Storage providers
  • Payments
  • Testing
  • CI/CD
  • and much more.

Everything is designed to be modular so contributors can add new features without touching the core.

A small detail I'm excited about

One feature I'm particularly happy with is the generated development welcome page.

Instead of Django's default "It worked!" page, Okepy generates a clean developer dashboard showing:

  • project information
  • installed features
  • quick links to the Admin panel
  • API documentation
  • ReDoc
  • useful getting-started actions

It's a small touch, but it makes a new project feel polished from the very first run.

It's open source

I'm building Okepy in the open and I'd love feedback from the Python community.

Whether you have ideas, want to report issues, improve the documentation, or contribute code, you're welcome.

PyPI

https://pypi.org/project/okepy/

GitHub

https://github.com/Okapi-Labs/okepy

If you've ever wished Python had its own "create-vite", I'd love to hear what features you'd want to see.

Let's build it together. 🚀

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