Getting Started with Django is an exciting journey into the world of web development. Django is a high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. To begin, you should have a basic understanding of Python programming. Once you're comfortable with Python, you can set up your Django environment. Start by installing Django via pip with the command pip install Django. After installation, you can create a new project by using the command django-admin startproject projectname, where projectname is your desired name for the project.

As you dive deeper into Django web development, you will want to understand its architecture, which follows the Model-View-Template (MVT) pattern. This pattern helps in separating the business logic from the user interface. Django comes with a powerful ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) that simplifies database interactions. To create your first application, use the command python manage.py startapp appname, replacing appname with your chosen name. Make sure to register your app in settings.py to make it part of your project. With these foundational steps, you'll be well on your way to building robust web applications.

When building scalable applications with Django, adhering to best practices is essential for maintaining performance and ensuring ease of development. Here are the Top 10 Django Best Practices to consider:

1. Use Django's Built-in Functions: Leverage the built-in functionalities provided by Django, which are optimized for performance. This not only saves time but also ensures better reliability.
2. Organize Your Project Properly: Structure your project with a clear and logical folder hierarchy. This makes navigation simpler and helps teams understand the project layout quickly.
3. Implement Proper Caching: Use Django’s caching framework to reduce database hits and improve response times. Implement caching strategies like page caching, database caching, and template fragment caching.
4. Optimize Database Queries: Make use of Django's query optimization features. Always strive to reduce database hits by using select_related and prefetch_related wisely.

In addition to the previous practices, there are several more techniques to follow for even better scalability.

6. Utilize Django Signals: Signals are a powerful way to allow decoupled applications to get notified when certain actions occur elsewhere in your application, making it easier to maintain and expand your application.
7. Implement Middleware Wisely: Middleware can add overhead to your application. Ensure that it's implemented effectively and selectively to maintain optimal performance.
8. Write Tests: Create a suite of tests to ensure that your application behaves as expected. This helps to catch bugs early and saves time in the long run.
9. Scale Horizontally: As your user base grows, consider using multiple servers and load balancers to distribute traffic evenly across your application.
10. Stay Up-to-Date: Regularly update your Django version and dependencies to take advantage of performance improvements and security patches.

Building a RESTful API with Django can significantly enhance the functionality of your web applications. To begin, you need to ensure that you have Django installed, along with the Django REST framework, which will provide you with the tools necessary to create a robust API. Start by creating a new Django project and setting up a new app where your API logic will reside. After setting up your models, you can use serializers to convert complex data types such as querysets into JSON format, which is essential for REST APIs.

Once you've set up your models and serializers, the next step is to define your API views. In Django REST framework, you can create class-based or function-based views. For instance, using viewsets allows you to combine the logic for read and write operations into a single class. Remember to configure your URLs properly to route API requests to your views. Finally, utilize tools like Postman to test your API endpoints and ensure they are functioning as intended. Building a RESTful API with Django can empower your applications and provide a seamless experience for front-end developers.