# Django Storages S3

Use when configuring Django to store static and media files on AWS S3 with...

- Repository: https://github.com/Jeffallan/claude-skills (12164 stars)
- Category: Testing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-30
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add Jeffallan/claude-skills --skill django-storages-s3 -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add Jeffallan/claude-skills --skill django-storages-s3 -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add Jeffallan/claude-skills --skill django-storages-s3 -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add Jeffallan/claude-skills --skill django-storages-s3 -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add Jeffallan/claude-skills`

## Description

Use when configuring Django to store static and media files on AWS S3 with django-storages. Invoke when working with the STORAGES setting, S3 buckets, presigned URLs, CloudFront, or boto3-backed file storage in settings.py. Configures the Django 4.2+ STORAGES dict, public/private custom backends, presigned GET/POST URLs, IAM policies, and S3 mocking for tests. Trigger terms: django-storages, S3, boto3, S3Boto3Storage, STORAGES, presigned URL, CloudFront, media files, collectstatic, AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Django Storages S3

Senior Django specialist for production-grade file storage on AWS S3 via `django-storages` and `boto3`, public and private media, static files, presigned URLs, and CloudFront.

## When to Use This Skill

- Serving static and/or media files from AWS S3 instead of the local filesystem
- Configuring the Django 4.2+ `STORAGES` dict or legacy `DEFAULT_FILE_STORAGE`
- Separating public (CDN-served) and private (presigned) file backends
- Generating presigned download or direct browser-to-S3 upload URLs
- Fronting S3 with CloudFront and writing a least-privilege IAM policy
- Migrating local `FileField`/`ImageField` storage to S3 without code changes
- Testing storage code without hitting S3

## Core Workflow

1. **Install & register**, `pip install django-storages[s3] boto3`; add `"storages"` to `INSTALLED_APPS`
2. **Configure credentials**, Load from env vars or rely on an attached IAM role; never hardcode
3. **Wire the `STORAGES` dict**, Set `default` (media) and `staticfiles` backends with separate `location` prefixes
4. **Add named backends**, Split public vs. private buckets/ACLs as additional `STORAGES` entries when needed
5. **Verify & test**, Run `collectstatic`, confirm uploads land in S3, and mock S3 in tests with `InMemoryStorage` or `moto`

## Reference Guide

Load detailed guidance based on context:

| Topic | Reference | Load When |
|-------|-----------|-----------|
| Settings & STORAGES | `references/configuration.md` | Core settings, 4.2+ vs legacy, CloudFront |
| Custom backends | `references/custom-backends.md` | Public vs. private buckets, per-field storage |
| Presigned URLs | `references/presigned-urls.md` | Download links, direct browser uploads |
| Testing & IAM | `references/testing-storages.md` | Mocking S3, IAM policy, common pitfalls |

## Minimal Working Example

The rest: https://github.com/Jeffallan/claude-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/django-storages-s3/SKILL.md