Getting started with Django is an exciting journey into the world of web development. Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. With Django, you can create robust web applications with minimal coding, which is particularly beneficial for beginners. The framework follows the Model-View-Template (MVT) architectural pattern, making it easier to separate and manage different components of your application. To kick off your learning process, ensure you have Python installed on your system, and familiarize yourself with basic Python concepts, as they are essential for understanding Django.

Once you have your environment set up, you can start building your first Django project. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Open your terminal and create a new Django project using the command django-admin startproject projectname.
2. Navigate into your project directory with cd projectname.
3. Run the development server using python manage.py runserver.
4. Visit http://127.0.0.1:8000/ in your web browser to see your project in action.

When working with Django, efficiency is key to building robust applications. Here are the Top 10 Django Tips and Tricks that can streamline your coding process:

1. Use Django Admin: Leverage the built-in admin interface to manage your app's data easily.
2. Optimize QuerySets: Use methods like select_related() and prefetch_related() to minimize database hits.
3. Employ Model Managers: Create custom model managers for common queries to keep your code DRY.
4. Utilize Class-Based Views: They provide a more organized way to manage views and reduce repetitive code.
5. Implement Middleware: Use middleware to handle common tasks such as authentication and logging across your app.

Continuing with our Top 10 Django Tips and Tricks, here are five more essential techniques:

6. Keep Your Settings Modular: Split your settings into different files for development and production to maintain security and organization.
7. Use Signals: Signals in Django can help decouple your code and make it more maintainable.
8. Explore Django's Built-in Functions: Familiarize yourself with built-in functions like get_or_create() to streamline data handling.
9. Employ Template Inheritance: This reduces duplication and keeps your templates tidy.
10. Stay Updated: Regularly update your Django version to benefit from the latest features and security patches.

Building your first Django project can feel overwhelming, but with this step-by-step tutorial, you'll find that it’s more manageable than you might expect. Django is a powerful web framework that simplifies web development by providing a set of tools that follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. To get started, ensure you have Python and Django installed on your machine. You can create a new Django project by running the command django-admin startproject myproject in your terminal, replacing myproject with your project name. This command will create a new directory containing the necessary files to kick off your development.

Once your project is set up, it’s time to create an application within it. An application is a web service that performs a specific task, and you can have multiple applications within a single project. To create your app, run python manage.py startapp myapp. After creating your app, you should register it in your settings.py file by adding it to the INSTALLED_APPS list. Now, you can define models, views, and templates in your app, allowing you to build dynamic web pages. Lastly, don’t forget to test your project by running the built-in server using python manage.py runserver to see your progress in real-time!