django-rest-framework/docs/index.rst
2011-03-03 09:02:41 +00:00

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.. meta::
:description: A lightweight REST framework for Django.
:keywords: django, python, REST, RESTful, API, interface, framework
Django REST framework
=====================
Introduction
------------
Django REST framework aims to make it easy to build well-connected, self-describing RESTful Web APIs.
Features:
* Automatically provides a Django admin style `browse-able self-documenting API <http://api.django-rest-framework.org>`_.
* Clean, simple, views for Resources, using Django's new `class based views <http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/topics/class-based-views/>`_.
* Support for ModelResources with out-of-the-box default implementations and input validation.
* Pluggable :mod:`.emitters`, :mod:`parsers`, :mod:`validators` and :mod:`authenticators` - Easy to customise.
* Content type negotiation using HTTP Accept headers.
* Optional support for forms as input validation.
* Modular architecture - MixIn classes can be used without requiring the :class:`.Resource` or :class:`.ModelResource` classes.
The django-rest-framework project is hosted as a `mercurial repository on bitbucket <https://bitbucket.org/tomchristie/django-rest-framework>`_.
For questions, thoughts and feedback please head on over to the `discussion group <http://groups.google.com/group/django-rest-framework>`_.
Bug reports are greatful received on the `issue tracker <https://bitbucket.org/tomchristie/django-rest-framework/issues?sort=version>`_.
If you're feeling particularly enthusiastic there's even a `blog <http://blog.django-rest-framework.org>`_ which I might post useful stuff to now and then.
Requirements
------------
* Python (2.5, 2.6, 2.7 supported)
* Django (1.2, 1.3 supported)
Installation & Setup
--------------------
You can install Django REST framework using ``pip`` or ``easy_install``::
pip install djangorestframework
Or download the current release from BitBucket:
* `django-rest-framework-0.1.tar.gz <https://bitbucket.org/tomchristie/django-rest-framework/downloads/django-rest-framework-0.1.tar.gz>`_
* `django-rest-framework-0.1.zip <https://bitbucket.org/tomchristie/django-rest-framework/downloads/django-rest-framework-0.1.zip>`_
Or get the latest development version using mercurial::
hg clone https://bitbucket.org/tomchristie/django-rest-framework
To install Django REST framework to your ``site-packages`` directory, run the ``setup.py`` script::
python setup.py install
To add django-rest-framework to a Django project:
* Ensure that the ``djangorestframework`` directory is on your ``PYTHONPATH``.
* Add ``djangorestframework`` to your ``INSTALLED_APPS``.
For more information take a look at the :ref:`setup` section.
Getting Started
---------------
Using Django REST framework can be as simple as adding a few lines to your urlconf and adding a `permalink <http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/ref/models/instances/#get-absolute-url>`_ to your model.
`urls.py`::
from django.conf.urls.defaults import patterns, url
from djangorestframework import ModelResource, RootModelResource
from models import MyModel
urlpatterns = patterns('',
url(r'^$', RootModelResource.as_view(model=MyModel)),
url(r'^(?P<pk>[^/]+)/$', ModelResource.as_view(model=MyModel), name='my-model'),
)
`models.py`::
class MyModel(models.Model):
# (Rest of model definition...)
@models.permalink
def get_absolute_url(self):
return ('my-model', (self.pk,))
Django REST framework comes with two "getting started" examples.
#. :ref:`resources`
#. :ref:`modelresources`
Examples
--------
There are a few real world web API examples included with Django REST framework.
#. :ref:`objectstore` - Using :class:`.Resource` for resources that do not map to models.
#. :ref:`codehighlighting` - Using :class:`.Resource` with forms for input validation.
#. :ref:`blogposts` - Using :class:`.ModelResource` for resources that map directly to models.
All the examples are freely available for testing in the sandbox:
http://api.django-rest-framework.org
(The :ref:`sandbox` resource is also documented.)
How Tos, FAQs & Notes
---------------------
.. toctree::
:maxdepth: 1
howto/setup
howto/usingcurl
howto/alternativeframeworks
howto/mixin
Library Reference
-----------------
.. toctree::
:maxdepth: 1
library/resource
library/modelresource
library/emitters
library/parsers
library/authenticators
library/validators
library/response
library/status
Examples Reference
------------------
.. toctree::
:maxdepth: 1
examples/resources
examples/modelresources
examples/objectstore
examples/pygments
examples/blogpost
examples/sandbox
howto/mixin
Indices and tables
------------------
* :ref:`genindex`
* :ref:`modindex`
* :ref:`search`