how to load django debug_toolbar dynamically in your settings - django

Question

For a number of reasons, running from unit testing performance to migration issues (Django Migration Error: Column does not exist), I have found it useful to turn the debug toolbar on and off.
Here's a way I've found to control loading it from environment variables.
No, not really a question, think of it as a recipe that I wish I had found on SO.

Answer 1

I believe putting
def show_toolbar(request):
if DEBUG:
return True
DEBUG_TOOLBAR_CONFIG = {
"SHOW_TOOLBAR_CALLBACK": show_toolbar,
}
in settings.py is the recommended way and perhaps a bit simpler?

Answer 2

settings.py
INSTALLED_APPS = (
'django.contrib.auth',
'django.contrib.contenttypes',
'django.contrib.sessions',
'django.contrib.sites',
'django.contrib.messages',
'django.contrib.staticfiles',
#conditionally disable later on
'debug_toolbar',
#...my apps...
)
#disable if not in DEBUG or if $USE_DEBUG_TOOLBAR is not set.
USE_DEBUG_TOOLBAR = bool(int(os.getenv("USE_DEBUG_TOOLBAR", 0))) and DEBUG
#disable as well if running unit tests...
pgm = os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
if not USE_DEBUG_TOOLBAR or pgm.startswith("test") or pgm.startswith("nosetests"):
li = [app for app in INSTALLED_APPS if not app == "debug_toolbar"]
INSTALLED_APPS = tuple(li)
and your command line use might look like:
export USE_DEBUG_TOOLBAR=1 && python manage.py runserver