Refs #18296 -- Created custom target directory if missing in startproject and startapp

django/core/management/templates.py

@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ class TemplateCommand(BaseCommand):
             if app_or_project == "app":
                 self.validate_name(os.path.basename(top_dir), "directory")
             if not os.path.exists(top_dir):
-                raise CommandError(
-                    "Destination directory '%s' does not "
-                    "exist, please create it first." % top_dir
-                )
+                try:
+                    os.makedirs(top_dir)
+                except OSError as e:
+                    raise CommandError(e)
 
         # Find formatters, which are external executables, before input
         # from the templates can sneak into the path.

docs/ref/django-admin.txt

@@ -1247,9 +1247,9 @@ By default, :source:`the new directory <django/conf/app_template>` contains a
 ``models.py`` file and other app template files. If only the app name is given,
 the app directory will be created in the current working directory.
 
-If the optional destination is provided, Django will use that existing
-directory rather than creating a new one. You can use '.' to denote the current
-working directory.
+If the optional destination is provided, Django will use that name instead. If
+the directory with the given name doesn't exist, it will be created. You can
+use '.' to denote the current working directory.
 
 For example:
 
@@ -1359,9 +1359,10 @@ If only the project name is given, both the project directory and project
 package will be named ``<projectname>`` and the project directory
 will be created in the current working directory.
 
-If the optional destination is provided, Django will use that existing
-directory as the project directory, and create ``manage.py`` and the project
-package within it. Use '.' to denote the current working directory.
+If the optional destination is provided, Django will use that name as the
+project directory, and create ``manage.py`` and the project package within it.
+If the directory with the given name doesn't exist, it will be created. Use '.'
+to denote the current working directory.
 
 For example:
 

docs/releases/5.2.txt

@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@ Management Commands
   setting the :envvar:`HIDE_PRODUCTION_WARNING` environment variable to
   ``"true"``.
 
+* The :djadmin:`startproject` and :djadmin:`startapp` commands now create the
+  custom target directory if it doesn't exist.
+
 Migrations
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 

tests/admin_scripts/tests.py

@@ -2793,7 +2793,7 @@ class StartProject(LiveServerTestCase, AdminScriptTestCase):
 
     def test_custom_project_destination_missing(self):
         """
-        Make sure an exception is raised when the provided
+        Create the directory when the provided
         destination directory doesn't exist
         """
         template_path = os.path.join(custom_templates_dir, "project_template")
@@ -2807,12 +2807,8 @@ class StartProject(LiveServerTestCase, AdminScriptTestCase):
         testproject_dir = os.path.join(self.test_dir, "project_dir2")
         out, err = self.run_django_admin(args)
         self.assertNoOutput(out)
-        self.assertOutput(
-            err,
-            "Destination directory '%s' does not exist, please create it first."
-            % testproject_dir,
-        )
-        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(testproject_dir))
+        self.assertNoOutput(err)
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(testproject_dir))
 
     def test_custom_project_template_with_non_ascii_templates(self):
         """
@@ -3039,6 +3035,21 @@ class StartApp(AdminScriptTestCase):
                 content,
             )
 
+    def test_custom_app_destination_missing(self):
+        """
+        Create the directory when the provided destination directory doesn't exist
+        """
+        args = [
+            "startapp",
+            "my_app",
+            "my_app",
+        ]
+        testapp_dir = os.path.join(self.test_dir, "my_app")
+        out, err = self.run_django_admin(args)
+        self.assertNoOutput(out)
+        self.assertNoOutput(err)
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(testapp_dir))
+
 
 class DiffSettings(AdminScriptTestCase):
     """Tests for diffsettings management command."""