REST API Basics

This is a basic, and rapid fire, guide on how to build a REST API with Django & Python. For much deeper depth and understanding, check out our new course on REST API.

Software

• Django 1.11.8 (https://kirr.co/hjogvt)
• Python 3.6.3 (https://kirr.co/ftq97z)
• Django Rest Framework 3.7.3 (https://kirr.co/svez0s)
• Django Rest Framework JWT 1.11.0 (https://kirr.co/vpibmo)

Related Source Code: https://kirr.co/9gqpkg

Initial Setup

virtualenv -p python3 restapi-basics

# activate it 
# mac: `source bin/activate`
# windows: `.\Scripts\activate`

pip install django==1.11.8 djangorestframework==3.7.3 djangorestframework-jwt==1.11.0

mkdir src && cd src

django-admin startproject cfehome .
django-admin startapp postings

Update your settings to reflect the following:

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    ...
    'rest_framework',
    'postings'
]



REST_FRAMEWORK = {
    'DEFAULT_PERMISSION_CLASSES': (
        'rest_framework.permissions.IsAuthenticated',
    ),
    'DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES': (
        'rest_framework_jwt.authentication.JSONWebTokenAuthentication',
        'rest_framework.authentication.SessionAuthentication',
        'rest_framework.authentication.BasicAuthentication',
    ),
}