---
id: Gentleman-Programming/Gentleman-Skills/django-drf
version: "761c5887"
license: MIT
install: manual
updated: 2026-03-28
---

# django-drf — Learn proven Django REST Framework patterns for building scalable APIs. This skill covers ViewSets, Serializers for different operations, filtering strategies, custom permissions, pagination setup, and routing conventions. Includes testing patterns and common management commands.

Publisher: Gentleman-Programming · Stars: 604 · Updated: 2026-03-28

Install (manual): `git clone https://github.com/Gentleman-Programming/Gentleman-Skills`

## SKILL.md

## ViewSet Pattern

```python
from rest_framework import viewsets, status
from rest_framework.response import Response
from rest_framework.decorators import action

class UserViewSet(viewsets.ModelViewSet):
    queryset = User.objects.all()
    serializer_class = UserSerializer
    filterset_class = UserFilter
    permission_classes = [IsAuthenticated]

    def get_serializer_class(self):
        if self.action == "create":
            return UserCreateSerializer
        if self.action in ["update", "partial_update"]:
            return UserUpdateSerializer
        return UserSerializer

    @action(detail=True, methods=["post"])
    def activate(self, request, pk=None):
        user = self.get_object()
        user.is_active = True
        user.save()
        return Response({"status": "activated"})
```

## Serializer Patterns

```python
from rest_framework import serializers

# Read Serializer
class UserSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
    full_name = serializers.SerializerMethodField()

    class Meta:
        model = User
        fields = ["id", "email", "full_name", "created_at"]
        read_only_fields = ["id", "created_at"]

    def get_full_name(self, obj):
        return f"{obj.first_name} {obj.last_name}"

# Create Serializer
class UserCreateSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
    password = serializers.CharField(write_only=True)

    class Meta:
        model = User
        fields = ["email", "password", "first_name", "last_name"]

    def create(self, validated_data):
        password = validated_data.pop("password")
        user = User(**validated_data)
        user.set_password(password)
        user.save()
        return user

# Update Serializer
class UserUpdateSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
    class Meta:
        model = User
        fields = ["first_name", "last_name"]
```

## Filters

```python
from django_filters import rest_framework as filters

class UserFilter(filters.FilterSet):
    email = filters.CharFilter(lookup_expr="icontains")
    is_active = filters.BooleanFilter()
    created_after = filters.DateTimeFilter(
        field_name="created_at",
        lookup_expr="gte"
    )
    created_before = filters.DateTimeFilter(
        field_name="created_at",
        lookup_expr="lte"
    )

    class Meta:
        model = User
        fields = ["email", "is_active"]
```

## Permissions

```python
from rest_framework.permissions import BasePermission

class IsOwner(BasePermission):
    def has_object_permission(self, request, view, obj):
        return obj.owner == request.user

class IsAdminOrReadOnly(BasePermission):
    def has_permission(self, request, view):
        if request.method in ["GET", "HEAD", "OPTIONS"]:
            return True
        return request.user.is_staff
```

## Pagination

```python
from rest_framework.pagination import PageNumberPagination

class StandardPagination(PageNumberPagination):
    page_size = 20
    page_size_query_param = "page_size"
    max_page_size = 100

# settings.py
REST_FRAMEWORK = {
    "DEFAULT_PAGINATION_CLASS": "api.pagination.StandardPagination",
}
```

## URL Routing

```python
from rest_framework.routers import DefaultRouter

router = DefaultRouter()
router.register(r"users", UserViewSet, basename="user")
router.register(r"posts", PostViewSet, basename="post")

urlpatterns = [
    path("api/v1/", include(router.urls)),
]
```

## Testing

```python
import pytest
from rest_framework import status
from rest_framework.test import APIClient

@pytest.fixture
def api_client():
    return APIClient()

@pytest.fixture
def authenticated_client(api_client, user):
    api_client.force_authenticate(user=user)
    return api_client

@pytest.mark.django_db
class TestUserViewSet:
    def test_list_users(self, authenticated_client):
        response = authenticated_client.get("/api/v1/users/")
        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK

    def test_create_user(self, authenticated_client):
        data = {"email": "new@test.com", "password": "pass123"}
        response = authenticated_client.post("/api/v1/users/", data)
        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
```

## Commands

```bash
python manage.py runserver
python manage.py makemigrations
python manage.py migrate
python manage.py createsuperuser
python manage.py shell
```

## Keywords
django, drf, rest framework, viewset, serializer, api, rest api


[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/Gentleman-Programming/Gentleman-Skills/django-drf) · [View on GitHub](https://github.com/Gentleman-Programming/Gentleman-Skills)