Question

I have a strange error using the built in webserver in Django (haven’t tested against Apache as I’m in active development). I have a url pattern that works for short url parameters (e.g. Chalk%20Hill), but locks up python on this one

http://localhost:8000/chargeback/checkDuplicateProject/Bexar%20Street%20Phase%20IV%20Brigham%20Ln%20to%20Myrtle%20St

The get request just says pending, and never returns, and I have to force quit python to get the server to function again. What am I doing wrong?

EDIT:
In continuing testing, it’s strange, if I just enter the url, it returns the correct json response. Then it locks python. While I’m in the website, though, it never returns, and locks python.

urls:

url(r'^chargeback/checkDuplicateProject/(?P<aProjectName>(\w+)((\s)?(-)?(\w+)?)*)/$', 'chargeback.views.isProjectDuplicate'),

views:

def isProjectDuplicate(request, aProjectName):
    #count the number of matching project names
    p = Project.objects.filter(projectName__exact = aProjectName).count()

    #if > 0, the project is a duplicate
    if p > 0:
        return HttpResponse('{"results":["Duplicate"]}', mimetype='application/json')
    else:
        return HttpResponse('{"results":["Not Duplicate"]}', mimetype='application/json')

Model:

class Project(models.Model):
    projectName = models.TextField('project name')
    department = models.ForeignKey('Department')

    def __unicode__(self):
        return self.projectName

Answer 1

Since you are going to check whether aProjectName already exists in the database, there’s no need for you to make the regex so complicated.

I suggest you simplify the regex to

url(r'^chargeback/checkDuplicateProject/(?P<aProjectName>[\w+\s-]*)/$', 'chargeback.views.isProjectDuplicate'),

For a further explanation, see the question url regex keeps django busy/crashing on the django-users group.