Django 1.4
User Profile Model (One-to-One Relationship)
In Django 1.4, define a model that that linked to the Django User Model via a One-To-One relationship.
accounts/models.py
from django.db import models
from django.contrib.auth.models import User
class UserProfile(models.Model):
user = models.ForeignKey(User, unique=True)
url = models.URLField(blank=True)
In order for Django to know use the model as the profile, you need to define it in your settings.py
settings.py
AUTH_PROFILE_MODULE = "accounts.UserProfile"
The profile model can be accessed by calling .get_profile() on the User model
accounts/views.py
@login_required
def view_page(request):
user_profile = request.user.get_profile()
Drawbacks
- 2 Database queries
- Requires a new table
- Username is limited to 30 characters
- Its up to you to create the model when the User is created. What happens if its missing?
Proxies
Proxies are another way of extending functionailty, but are very limited in what they offer. You can define a new class that inherits from User, and define it as a proxy class. This will allow you to access the User objects from the proxy class, and use any new methods defined by the proxy. It DOES NOT however allow for adding new fields to the User model. https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.4/topics/db/models/#proxy-models
class UserProxy(User):
class Meta:
proxy = True
def get_full_name(self):
return self.first_name + " " + self.last_name
Monkey patch
Yes, you could add new functionlity. Please don't, it will break.