I’m trying to find a way to easily generate an example/demonstration data set from initial_data.json in Django.
Essentially, the fixtures and initial_data.json do exactly what I need, except that the dates are static….
My app uses dates to display/sort otherwise easily generated information (comments, scores etc) and I’d like to create a thorough data set in order to be able to demonstrate the app’s functions to prospective clients; the problem arises with the dates. Even if I run syncdb (which automatically includes my initial_data.json), the dates are static, so all the information will relate to those specific dates, rather than to today. As time passes, that data will become less visible in the app and will therefore not fully demonstrate it’s abilities to potential clients.
Is there an easy way to update date information in initial_data.json so that dates remain relevant to the current real date and I can then run syncdb again with those new dates? (Assume that this is all on a local machine merely as a demonstration to clients… Not on a server, production or otherwise).
I hope this makes sense?!
OK, my solution was to use django-mockups: https://github.com/sorl/django-mockups
It adds random data to your tables (all of them or only those specified by the user) by obeying the field types (text, email, url etc) and the max_length specified in those fields. Inserts Lorem Ipsum and inserts correctly formatted email address etc etc
Very easy to use, can be set to run through a cron job, or can be run manually as and when required. Perfect.