Generate QR Code and Connect to WiFi with Django

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is a QR code?
3. Benefits of using QR codes for Wi-Fi network access
4. How to generate QR codes for Wi-Fi network access
5. Setting up a Django project
6. Creating the "rooms" application
7. Configuring media files in Django
8. Creating a superuser
9. Adding the necessary dependencies
10. Generating QR code using the Wi-Fi QR code generator
11. Overwriting the save method in models.py
12. Saving the generated QR code image
13. Registering the model in the Django Administration
14. Testing the generated QR code

Introduction

In this article, we will explore how to generate QR codes that allow users to join a Wi-Fi network without having to manually enter the network name and password. This method is particularly popular in hotel rooms, where guests can simply scan a QR code to connect to the Wi-Fi instantly. We will use Django, a Python web framework, to implement this solution.

What is a QR code?

QR code stands for Quick Response code. It is a type of barcode that can be scanned using a smartphone camera or a QR code reader. QR codes can store various types of information, including website URLs, contact details, and Wi-Fi network credentials.

Benefits of using QR codes for Wi-Fi network access

Using QR codes for Wi-Fi network access offers several benefits:

1. Convenience: Users can easily connect to a Wi-Fi network by scanning a QR code instead of manually entering the network name and password.

2. Speed: QR codes allow for quick and seamless connection to a Wi-Fi network, saving time and effort.

3. Error-free: Since there is no manual typing involved, the chances of entering incorrect network credentials are eliminated.

4. Security: QR codes can be encrypted to ensure the security of the Wi-Fi network.

5. User-friendly: QR codes provide a user-friendly and intuitive way to connect to a Wi-Fi network, making it accessible to all users.

How to generate QR codes for Wi-Fi network access

To generate QR codes for Wi-Fi network access, we will use the Wi-Fi QR code generator package in Django. This package relies on dependencies such as pillow and QR code. By following the steps outlined in this article, you will be able to generate QR codes for your Wi-Fi network in no time.

Setting up a Django project

Before we can start generating QR codes, we need to set up a Django project. If you already have a Django project, you can skip this step. Otherwise, follow the instructions below:

1. Install Django: Use the appropriate command to install Django on your system.
2. Create a new Django project: Use the django-admin startproject command to create a new Django project.
3. Navigate to the project directory: Use the cd command to navigate to the newly created project directory.
4. Create a virtual environment: It is recommended to create a virtual environment for your Django project to isolate its dependencies.
5. Activate the virtual environment: Activate the virtual environment using the appropriate command for your operating system.

Creating the "rooms" application

Once the Django project is set up, we need to create a new application called "rooms" within the project. This application will handle the generation and storage of QR codes for the Wi-Fi network access.

To create the "rooms" application, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal or command prompt.
2. Navigate to the project directory.
3. Run the command python manage.py startapp rooms. This will create a new directory named "rooms" within your Django project.

Configuring media files in Django

In order to store the generated QR code images, we need to configure media files in Django. By doing so, we can specify where the QR code images will be stored and how they can be accessed.

To configure media files in Django, follow these steps:

1. Open the settings.py file in your Django project.
2. Scroll down to the section that starts with MEDIA_ROOT.
3. Set the MEDIA_ROOT and MEDIA_URL variables according to your desired configuration.
4. Save the settings.py file.

Creating a superuser

To access the Django Administration, we need to create a superuser. The superuser will have administrative privileges to manage the generated QR codes and other entities in the Django project.

To create a superuser, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal or command prompt.
2. Navigate to the project directory.
3. Run the command python manage.py createsuperuser.
4. Follow the prompts to enter a username, email (optional), and password for the superuser.
5. Once the superuser is created, you can use the credentials to log in to the Django Administration.

Adding the necessary dependencies

To generate the QR codes for Wi-Fi network access, we need to add the necessary dependencies to our Django project. These dependencies include the Wi-Fi QR code generator package, pillow, and QR code.

To add the dependencies, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal or command prompt.
2. Navigate to the project directory.
3. Run the command pip install wi-fi-qr-code-generator pillow qrcode.

Generating QR code using the Wi-Fi QR code generator

Once the dependencies are installed, we can proceed to generate the QR codes using the Wi-Fi QR code generator package. This package provides a convenient way to generate QR codes that enable users to join a Wi-Fi network.

To generate the QR code, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the models.py file of the "rooms" application.
2. Import the necessary modules, including the Wi-Fi QR code generator and slugify from Django.
3. Overwrite the save method in the Room model to generate the QR code when the model is saved.
4. Configure the Wi-Fi network name, security protocol, and password (replace with your own values if needed).
5. Generate the QR code using the Wi-Fi QR code generator, passing in the network details and the slugified name.
6. Save the generated QR code image to the QR code field of the Room model using the content file and bytes IO.
7. Save the model and test the generated QR code functionality.

Overwriting the save method in models.py

To generate the QR code when a Room model is saved, we need to overwrite the save method in the models.py file of the "rooms" application. This allows us to generate the QR code image and save it to the QR code field of the model.

To overwrite the save method, follow these steps:

1. Open the models.py file of the "rooms" application.
2. Import the necessary modules, including the Wi-Fi QR code generator, slugify from Django, and ContentFile from Django core filespace.
3. Inside the Room model, define the save method with the necessary arguments.
4. Generate the slug from the room name using the slugify function.
5. Check if the QR code field is empty to avoid generating duplicate QR codes.
6. Generate the QR code using the Wi-Fi QR code generator, passing in the network details and the slugified name.
7. Save the generated QR code image to the QR code field using ContentFile and bytes IO.
8. Save the model.

Saving the generated QR code image

To save the generated QR code image, we need to configure the QR code field in the Room model. By doing so, we can store the QR code image within the model and retrieve it when needed.

To save the generated QR code image, follow these steps:

1. Open the models.py file of the "rooms" application.
2. Import the necessary modules, including the Wi-Fi QR code generator, slugify from Django, and ContentFile from Django core filespace.
3. Inside the Room model, define the QR code field with the appropriate parameters.
4. Save the generated QR code image to the QR code field using ContentFile and bytes IO.
5. Save the model.

Registering the model in the Django Administration

To manage the generated QR codes and other entities in the Django Administration, we need to register the Room model. By doing so, the Room model will be visible and editable in the Django Administration interface.

To register the model in the Django Administration, follow these steps:

1. Open the admin.py file of the "rooms" application.
2. Import the necessary modules, including the Room model and the Django admin site.
3. Register the Room model using the admin.site.register() function.

Testing the generated QR code

To test the generated QR code functionality, we can use the Django Administration interface. By creating a Room object and saving it, we should be able to see the generated QR code image and test its functionality by scanning it with a QR code reader.

To test the generated QR code, follow these steps:

1. Start the Django development server if it is not already running.
2. Open your web browser and navigate to the Django Administration interface (e.g., http://localhost:8000/admin/).
3. Log in using the superuser credentials.
4. Create a new Room object and provide the necessary details, including the room name.
5. Save the Room object.
6. Access the saved Room object and view the generated QR code image.
7. Scan the QR code using a QR code reader and verify that it allows you to join the Wi-Fi network.

Congratulations! You have successfully generated a QR code for Wi-Fi network access using Django. This solution provides a convenient and user-friendly way for users to connect to a Wi-Fi network without typing the network name and password.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned how to generate QR codes for Wi-Fi network access using Django. By following the step-by-step instructions, you can implement this solution in your own Django projects and provide a hassle-free way for users to join your Wi-Fi network.

Remember to consider the security implications of generating QR codes for Wi-Fi network access and ensure that the Wi-Fi network itself is secure. Additionally, keep your QR code generation logic up to date with the latest best practices and security standards.

If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to refer to the documentation of the Wi-Fi QR code generator package or seek assistance from the Django community.

Thank you for reading, and best of luck with your QR code generation endeavors!