What I learned setting up Wagtail for the first time

Introduction
My name is Joel Velásquez. I'm an IT Engineering student from Ecuador. I'm applying for Google Summer of Code 2026. I explored Wagtail for the first time as part of this process.
The challenge
At first, I didn't understand how Wagtail works. The hardest part was learning how models connect to the admin panel. Wagtail is not a traditional CMS. Its structure felt very different. But my web development background helped me adapt quickly.
The surprise
Wagtail surprised me in a good way. I found an edit button directly on each page I created. That was very practical. I also liked how well it integrates with Django. Once you understand the basics, everything feels natural.
Advice
Be patient at the start. Learn the key concepts first: pages, models, and the admin panel. It may feel confusing at first. But once it clicks, development becomes much easier.
Conclusion
This was a valuable experience. It gave me more confidence with Wagtail. My next step is to keep contributing as part of my GSoC 2026 application for the Starter Kit Upgrade project.