Django powers some of the world’s leading websites, offering a robust framework that propels projects from conception to production with ease. At its core, Django's migration framework and static asset management streamline development, but the journey doesn’t stop there. As applications expand and evolve, scaling introduces new challenges, particularly when deploying updates across multiple instances.

How do we manage schema and static asset versions during rolling updates or blue/green deployments without disrupting the user experience? This presentation dives into the trenches of scaling Django applications. We’ll unravel the complexities of running multiple instances with varying schema and static assets, exploring the intricacies of forward and backward-compatible migrations and the nuances of serving static assets in a distributed environment. Prepare to get your hands dirty as we navigate through real-world scenarios, weighing compromises and strategizing for success. Whether you’re scaling your first project or optimizing an enterprise-level system, this session will arm you with the knowledge to tackle these challenges head-on.