Configure project settings so that its secret key is stored safely in a .env file

widget_group22/.env

-SECRET_KEY= os.getenv('SECRET_KEY')
+SECRET_KEY= 'django-insecure-%sref4cve4o0bsht4u_if@gg#%872m_br-es$bvnp#n$g936i7'
 STATIC_ROOT='<folder path of where static items>'

widget_group22/widget_group22/settings.py

@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.0/ref/settings/
 
 from pathlib import Path
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
+import os
 
-load_dotenv
+load_dotenv()
 # Build paths inside the project like this: BASE_DIR / 'subdir'.
 BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.0/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = 'django-insecure-%sref4cve4o0bsht4u_if@gg#%872m_br-es$bvnp#n$g936i7'
+SECRET_KEY = os.getenv('SECRET_KEY')
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = True