Welcome to Django, a powerful web framework that can help you create delightful web apps with ease. If you're new to web development, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get started with Django. First, ensure you have Python installed on your machine, as Django is built on this versatile programming language. Next, you'll need to install Django via pip. Simply open your command line and type pip install Django. Once installed, you can create your first project by navigating to your desired directory and running django-admin startproject myproject.

After setting up your project, it's time to explore the directory structure that Django offers. In your project folder, you'll find a number of files, such as manage.py and a directory named after your project, which contains essential settings and URLs. To start the development server and see your new website in action, use the command python manage.py runserver. This will allow you to access your web app at http://127.0.0.1:8000/. As you progress, don't forget to explore the rich features of the Django framework, such as its built-in admin interface and robust ORM capabilities, which will enable you to build delightful web apps quickly.

When it comes to building a cake-baking website with Django, choosing the right packages can significantly enhance your site's functionality and user experience. Here are the Top 5 Django Packages that every cake enthusiast should consider:

1. Django Rest Framework: This powerful toolkit allows you to create robust APIs for your website, which is perfect for managing user accounts, recipes, and orders.
2. Django-allauth: Simplifying user registration and authentication, this package makes it easy for your customers to create accounts, log in, and share their favorite cakes.
3. Django-ckeditor: Enrich your recipe submissions with a full-featured text editor, enabling users to add images, videos, and formatted text effortlessly.
4. Django-filter: Enhance your cake search capabilities by allowing users to filter recipes based on ingredients, difficulty level, or baking time.
5. Django-storages: If you plan to showcase your baking triumphs on your website, this package helps manage file uploads to cloud storage, keeping your server clean and fast.

Django is a powerful framework, but even experienced developers can stumble upon common pitfalls. One prevalent mistake is neglecting to use Django's built-in features, such as the admin interface and authentication system. Relying on custom solutions for functionalities that Django readily provides can lead to unnecessary complications. Additionally, failing to follow the proper project structure can hinder collaboration and scalability. Always ensure your project adheres to Django's convention by organizing files and apps logically, which will save you time and frustration in the long run.

Another frequent error is overlooking security best practices. It’s easy to underestimate the importance of validating user input and sanitizing data, which can expose your application to vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Make sure to utilize Django's built-in security features, such as CSRF protection and secure cookies, to protect your project. Lastly, remember not to skip on writing tests. Comprehensive testing can prevent bugs from piling up and ensures that your application performs as expected, ultimately leading to a more robust final product.