Fix #140: Better error messages in case of missing environment variable

api/manage.py

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+import django
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -7,6 +8,12 @@ sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.production")
+    # we're doing this here since otherwise, missing environment
+    # files in settings result in AttributeError being raised, generating
+    # a cryptic django.core.exceptions.AppRegistryNotReady error.
+    # To prevent that, we explicitely load settings here before anything
+    # else, so we fail fast with a relevant error. See #140 for more details.
+    django.setup()
 
     from django.core.management import execute_from_command_line
 

changes/changelog.d/140.enhancement

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Better error messages in case of missing environment variables (#140)