Django Idioms

Django Idioms and Patterns

Django rewards convention, the ORM, and "batteries included" design. Idiomatic Django = DRY, model-centric, well-tested.

Scope: Django-specific patterns. For Python: @.gemini/skills/python-idioms/SKILL.md.

Models

1. Fat models, thin views — business logic in models/managers, not views.

2. Custom managers for common queries:

   class TaskManager(models.Manager):
       def active(self):
           return self.filter(status='active')
   
   class Task(models.Model):
       objects = TaskManager()
   

3. Meta class for ordering, constraints, indexes.

Views

1. Class-based views for CRUD, function-based for simple/custom:

   class TaskListView(LoginRequiredMixin, ListView):
       model = Task
       queryset = Task.objects.active()
       paginate_by = 25
   

2. DRF serializers for API boundaries:

   class TaskSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
       class Meta:
           model = Task
           fields = ['id', 'title', 'priority', 'created_at']
           read_only_fields = ['id', 'created_at']
   

ORM

1. select_related/prefetch_related to avoid N+1 queries.
2. F() and Q() expressions for complex queries.
3. Never raw SQL unless ORM can't express it (and then use parameterized queries).

Migrations

1. One migration per logical change. Squash when history grows.
2. Data migrations in separate migration files from schema changes.
3. RunPython with reverse_code for reversibility.

Testing

1. pytest-django over unittest.TestCase:

   @pytest.mark.django_db
   def test_create_task():
       task = Task.objects.create(title='Test', priority='high')
       assert task.title == 'Test'
   

2. Factory Boy for test data (not fixtures).

Formatting and Static Analysis

Related

• Python Idioms @.gemini/skills/python-idioms/SKILL.md
• Database Design Principles @.gemini/skills/database-design-principles/SKILL.md