Django Rest Framework ModelSerializers - Handling create and update

Question

I have some models in my Django database. Each model is created or updated through the DRF API. As a result, I have serializers (for every model) that handle the create, update and partial_update on the models.

A main part of the handling includes the following action:

def handle():
    if created:
        model.owner = request.user
        model.other_fields = other fields
        model.save()
    else:
        model.other_fields = other fields
        model.save()

Additionally, I need to create log entries whenever a model is saved, with request.user.

Log.objects.create(user=request.user, model=model, created=timezone.now())

I cannot use signals to create log entries, as the post_save signal does not have the request object.

How should I handle this?

• Should I create a custom signal and send it every time I create or update a model?
• Should I call a function in serializer's create and update to log the model?

Answer 1

Avoid using signals. The best approach is

OPTION 1

• call a function in serializer's create and update to log the model

But, do it using a mixin.

class LogSerializerMixin(object):

   def create_log(self):
       //do logic over here
       // get your request over here using self
       // get your model using self.instance
       Log.objects.create(user=request.user, model=model, created=timezone.now())

Then in your serializers

Serializer1(LogSerializerMixin, serializers.ModelSerializer):

    def create(self):
        // creation logic over here
        self.create_log()

    def update(self, data):
        // update logic over here
        self.create_log()

Another serializer.

Serializer2(LogSerializerMixin, serializers.ModelSerializer):

    def create(self):
        // creation logic over here
        self.create_log()

    def update(self, data):
        // update logic over here
        self.create_log()

OPTION 2

• Rewrite save model method and add log creation logic over there.