Django Rest Framework Without Database

Question

I'm trying to setup a simple API using Django Rest Framework, the problem is that my API does not have any database but the framework won't work without database setting.

Here is my Django Rest Framework configuration in settings.py:

INSTALLED_APPS = [
    'provider',
    'django_nose',
    'rest_framework',
    'django.contrib.contenttypes',
]

REST_FRAMEWORK = {
    'DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES': [],
    'DEFAULT_PERMISSION_CLASSES': [],
}

The error which I got is:

ImproperlyConfigured("settings.DATABASES is improperly configured. "django.core.exceptions.ImproperlyConfigured: settings.DATABASES is improperly configured. Please supply the ENGINE value. Check settings documentation for more details.

Is there any minimal settings which does not include django.contrib.contenttypes and django.contrib.auth?

When did you get that error ? Why do you need contenttypes application ? — Linovia
– Linovia, Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 10:06
Note that I have some API that don't use DB and haven't ran into that issue. — Linovia
– Linovia, Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 10:07
@Linovia I don't need contenttypes application and auth application, but it won't work without them, can you post a minimal django rest framework settings which does not hav any DB and will be only used as an API? — Kian Ahrabian
– Kian Ahrabian, Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 10:52
@Linovia It occurs when the view is trying to perform authentication — Kian Ahrabian
– Kian Ahrabian, Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 10:58
You can't have default authentication without DB. You'll have to write your own. — Linovia
– Linovia, Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 14:59

Kian Ahrabian · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-06 04:11:54Z

23

The actual cause of the problem is that DRF trys to add a user attribute to the request. Briefly mentioned in the documentation, the mechanism is as follows:

How authentication is determined

If no class authenticates, request.user will be set to an instance of django.contrib.auth.models.AnonymousUser

So it needed the django.contrib.auth application to run correctly, consequently django.contrib.auth requires a working configuration of Database to be able to perform.

The solution to this problem is to set the settings UNAUTHENTICATED_USER property to None.

Configuration will be like this after the changes:

REST_FRAMEWORK = {
    'DEFAULT_AUTHENTICATION_CLASSES': [],
    'DEFAULT_PERMISSION_CLASSES': [],
    'UNAUTHENTICATED_USER': None,
}

edited May 6, 2018 at 4:11

answered Aug 23, 2016 at 12:19

Kian Ahrabian

9212 gold badges8 silver badges20 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Nikolay Prokopyev Over a year ago

For me django rest framework APIView requires django.contrib.contenttypes, which is turned off. Error is RuntimeError: Model class django.contrib.contenttypes.models.ContentType doesn't declare an explicit app_label and isn't in an application in INSTALLED_APPS. The solution with UNAUTHENTICATED_USER works in the case too!

Andrea Corbellini · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-23 16:14:28Z

22

If you are really forced to use a database but you don't want to, you can use :memory: with the SQLite backend, like this:

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
        'NAME': ':memory:',
    }
}

This uses an in-memory database, so that your filesystem won't be touched.

Because memory is volatile, you might need to run migrations automatically every time your web app starts.

edited Aug 23, 2016 at 16:14

answered Aug 23, 2016 at 10:21

Andrea Corbellini

17.9k3 gold badges58 silver badges71 bronze badges

2 Comments

Kian Ahrabian Over a year ago

Can you describe more?

Eray Erdin Over a year ago

In short, instead of using disk space on server, you will use RAM. That is all. However, there is no need for doing this. Some suggested to use a file and you will not need to use it. You can use this option just to not see sqlite file and it will be deleted after shutting down. Both options are good to go.

turkus · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-23 10:07:58Z

2

You don't have any option. DATABASES dict should be in settings.py. You can use this:

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.sqlite3',
        'NAME': os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'db.sqlite3'),
    }
}

edited Aug 23, 2016 at 10:07

answered Aug 23, 2016 at 10:03

turkus

4,9633 gold badges28 silver badges31 bronze badges

4 Comments

Kian Ahrabian Over a year ago

I'm trying to setup the API without any database, even as small as sqlite :)

turkus Over a year ago

Why? Is there any reason for that?

Kian Ahrabian Over a year ago

It is redundant, there will be no another use for it.

turkus Over a year ago

Well, in this case you should create a big mock of database backend. Or extract model layer from database on your own from Django.

pleasedontbelong · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-23 10:17:41Z

-1

[not tested] maybe you could use a dummy backend. I see there's one from django:

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.dummy',
    }
}

answered Aug 23, 2016 at 10:17

pleasedontbelong

20.1k12 gold badges55 silver badges79 bronze badges

1 Comment

pleasedontbelong Over a year ago

ahhh hmm or maybe not.. github.com/django/django/blob/master/django/db/backends/dummy/… this is actually what it's complaining, you could probablly create one like this that just "pass" instead of raising an exception.. who knows it might work

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Django Rest Framework Without Database

4 Answers 4

1 Comment

2 Comments

4 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

1 Comment

2 Comments

4 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related