Back
Feb 28, 2010

Composing multiple views in Django

In UNIX way, each view should solve single task. This is good idea, but sometimes we need to mix logic of different views on same page. Filter, sort, paginate, or, for example, add comment on product page. In this article I'll show how we can mix such multiple views.

Idea

We can write views as decorators.

Example

Simplified filtration can look like this:

from django.views.generic.list_detail import object_list


def filtered_list(request, filterset_class, queryset, *args, **kwargs):
    filterset = filterset_class(request.GET)
    queryset = filterset.filter(queryset)
    kwargs['extra_context']['filterset'] = filterset

    return object_list(request, queryset, *args, **kwargs)

This is simple and straightforward, but in order to add some tricky pagination, we have to copy entire view and add more code to it.

Instead, we can create decorator like this:

def filtered(view):
    def wrapped(request, filterset_class, queryset, *args, **kwargs):
        filterset = filterset_class(request.GET)
        queryset = filterset.filter(queryset)
        kwargs['extra_context']['filterset'] = filterset
        return view(request, queryset, *args, **kwargs)

    return wrapped

Result

Assuming, that we have similar decorators, sorted и paginated, we can easily combine them:

@filtered
@paginated
def technic_list(*args, **kwargs):
    # ...

Or even like this, in lisp style:

url(r'^technic/$', filtered(sorted(paginated(object_list))), {
    'filterset_class': FilterSet,
     # ...
}, name='technic_list'),

Subscribe for the news and updates

More thoughts
Mar 2, 2017Technology
API versioning with django rest framework?

We often handling API server updates including backwards-incompatible changes when upgrading web applications. At the same time we update the client part, therefore, we did not experience any particular difficulties.

Feb 28, 2017Technology
How to write an API in Django

There is such a term as Remote Procedure Call (RPC). In other words, by using this technology, programs can call functions on remote computers. There are many ways to implement RPC.

Jan 9, 2017Technology
How to Use GraphQL with Django

GraphQL is a very powerful library, which is not difficult to understand. GraphQL will help to write simple and clear REST API to suit every taste and meet any requirements.

Oct 11, 2010Technology
Char search in Emacs as in Vim

In VIM there is a command for char search: f. After first use it can be repeated with ;. I like to navigate in line with it. You see that you need to go to bracket in a middle of a line - you press f( and one-two ; and you are there. There's no such command in Emacs, so I had to write my own. I've managed even to implement repetition with ;.

May 12, 2010Technology
Twitter API, OAuth and decorators

In my current project I had a task to use twitter API. Twitter uses OAuth for authentication, which is pretty dreary. To avoid fiddling with it all the time, I've moved authentication to decorator. If key is available - nothing happens, just view is launched as usual. It's convenient that there's no need for additional twitter settings in user profile. Code is in article.

Mar 6, 2010TechnologyManagement
Supplementing settings in settings_local

For local project settings, I use old trick with settings_local file:try:from settings_local import \*except ImportError:passSo in settings_local.py we can override variables from settings.py. I didn't know how to supplement them. For example how to add line to INSTALLED_APPS without copying whole list.Yesterday I finally understood that I can import settings from settings_local:# settings_local.pyfrom settings import \*INSTALLED_APPS += (# ...)