RapidSMS is a free and open-source framework for
dynamic data collection, logistics coordination and communication,
leveraging basic short message service (SMS) mobile phone technology (according to rapidsms.org). RapidSMS is a python program built on top of django. This is a quick "how to" to have rapidsms quickly set up on an Ubuntu machine. It is seven step process.
Step 1: install python-django,
python-pip.
$sudo
apt-get install python-django
$sudo
apt-get install python-pip
Step 2: Install rapidsms from the
cheeseshop.
$sudo pip install rapidsms
If you have rapidsms installed already,
then you can upgrade it:
$sudo pip
install -U rapidsms
Step 3: Next install the http
router
$sudo
pip install rapidsms-httprouter
Step 4: Now that all is set,
create a new project like so:
$cd
$rapidsms-admin.py
startproject my_project
Please replace the my_project with the
appropriate/desired name of your project.
Django will notice that you do not have
a super user/admin account for the new project that you are creating
so it will suggest that you create one. Enter the user name you
desire and password. I suggest you oblige and enter these!
Step 5: Now create the db. If
the name of the project in Step 4 was my_project, then;
$cd
my_project
Else $cd
name_of_your_newly_created_project
Now create/sync the db.
$python
manage.py syncdb
Step 6: Try accessing the webUI
of your newly created installation. Personally, I prefer running programs that capture my prompt using screen
So part (a) of this process is
optional
(a)
$screen
(b)
$python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000
or
$python
manage.py runserver
$ Ctrl - A + D (to exit screen----you may need to read the screen manual pages)
$ Ctrl - A + D (to exit screen----you may need to read the screen manual pages)
The first Option allows you to acess
the rapidsms WebUI both locally and remotely and the second allows
you to access the rapidsms WebIU locally only. Personally, I prefer
the first option because I develop most apps in VMs (Virtual
Machines)
(c) $python manage.py runrouter
Step 7:
http://your_ip_address:8000
You can access the admin interface that
django assisted to create for you by typing this:
http://your_ip_address:8000/admin.
Enter the user name and password you created in Step 4.
There you are!!! You now have a
barebones rapidsms installation.!!!
