Django REST API Development Guide: From Zero to Production

Django REST API Development Guide

Django REST Framework remains the fastest way to ship a mature Python API. Here is the setup I reach for on every new backend.

Project Layout

One Django app per business domain. Do not put every model in a core app — it becomes unmaintainable at scale.

Settings by Environment

Split settings into base.py, dev.py, and prod.py. Load secrets from environment variables, never from the repo.

Serializers = Your API Contract

Never expose the whole model. List fields explicitly so an added column doesn't leak into responses. Mark generated fields as read-only.

ViewSets and Routers

Wire a DefaultRouter in urls.py and you get list, retrieve, create, update, and delete for free. Add filter backends for query parameters.

Authentication

For SPAs and mobile clients, use JWT via djangorestframework-simplejwt. For internal service-to-service calls, use signed API keys. Never mix session auth into a public API.

Permissions

Set DEFAULT_PERMISSION_CLASSES = [IsAuthenticated] globally. Override per-view when needed. Object-level checks belong in has_object_permission, not in the view logic.

N+1 Queries

The silent killer. Always select_related for ForeignKey and prefetch_related for ManyToMany. Turn on django-debug-toolbar locally and watch the query count on every endpoint.

Pagination

Cursor pagination is the correct default for feeds and time-ordered data — offset pagination breaks when rows are inserted.

Testing

pytest-django + factory_boy. One factory per model, one test per happy path and per critical error path. Aim for 70%+ coverage on the domain apps.

Deployment

Gunicorn behind Nginx or Caddy, PostgreSQL, Redis for cache and Celery. On Cloud Run or Fly.io you get zero-downtime deploys with a single Dockerfile.

Wrap-Up

Django + DRF is unfashionable in some circles and shipping products in production in every circle. Boring, fast, safe — pick it.