Troubleshooting Django Import Errors in Docker

Based on your description, you're facing import errors in both manage.py and wsgi.py despite having Django properly installed in your Docker container. Let's explore some troubleshooting steps to resolve these issues.

Potential Causes and Solutions

1. Check Project Structure

Ensure your project structure follows Django conventions and that your files are in the correct locations:

/code/
├── manage.py
├── config/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── settings/
│   │   ├── __init__.py
│   │   ├── base.py
│   │   └── development.py
│   ├── wsgi.py
│   └── urls.py
└── ...

2. Verify File Permissions

Make sure your Python files have the correct permissions:

BASHCopied
chmod +x manage.py
chmod -R 755 config/

3. Check Python Version

Confirm you're using a compatible Python version:

BASHCopied
python --version

Django 3.2.22 requires Python 3.6 or newer.

4. Inspect the Actual Import Errors

Run the following to see the full traceback:

BASHCopied
python -v manage.py runserver

5. Check Docker Volume Mounts

Ensure your volume mounts are correctly configured in your docker-compose.yml:

YAMLCopied
volumes:
  - ./:/code

6. Try Alternative PYTHONPATH Configuration

Modify your Docker Compose environment settings:

YAMLCopied
environment:
  - DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=config.settings.development
  - PYTHONPATH=/code:/code/config
  - PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1

7. Check manage.py and wsgi.py Content

Ensure your manage.py has the correct imports:

PYTHONCopied
#!/usr/bin/env python
import os
import sys

if __name__ == "__main__":
    os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.development")
    try:
        from django.core.management import execute_from_command_line
    except ImportError as exc:
        raise ImportError(
            "Couldn't import Django. Are you sure it's installed and "
            "available on your PYTHONPATH environment variable? Did you "
            "forget to activate a virtual environment?"
        ) from exc
    execute_from_command_line(sys.argv)

And your wsgi.py:

PYTHONCopied
import os
from django.core.wsgi import get_wsgi_application

os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.development")
application = get_wsgi_application()

8. Rebuild Docker Container

Try rebuilding your Docker container to ensure all changes take effect:

BASHCopied
docker-compose down
docker-compose build --no-cache
docker-compose up

9. Check for Conflicting Packages

Inspect your installed packages for any conflicts:

BASHCopied
pip list

10. Try a Different Django Installation Method

BASHCopied
pip uninstall django
pip install django==3.2.22

If these steps don't resolve the issue, please provide the exact error messages and traceback for more specific guidance.