def register(self):
		#make sure the user doesn't already exist
		u = User.by_name(self.username)
		if u:
			msg = 'That user already exists.'
			self.render('signup.html', error_username = msg)
		else:
			if self.email:
				recently_add_user = User.register(self.username, self.password, self.email)
			else:
				recently_add_user = User.register(self.username, self.password)

			#save user to db and login user
			recently_add_user.put()
			self.login(recently_add_user)

			#redirect to home page
			self.redirect('/')
	def initialize(self, *a, **kw):
		webapp2.RequestHandler.initialize(self, *a, **kw)
		uid = self.read_secure_cookie('user_id')
		self.user = uid and User.by_id(int(uid))
		self.uid = uid

		if self.request.url.endswith('.json'):
			self.format = 'json'
		else:
			self.format = 'html'
	def post(self):
		username = self.request.get('username')
		password = self.request.get('password')

		u = User.login(username, password)
		if u:
			#self.username = u.username
			self.login(u)
			self.redirect('/')
		else:
			msg = 'Invalid login'
			self.render('login.html', error = str(u))