Serializing a list of object as dictionnary in DjangoRestFramework - django

Question

Using django & django-rest-framework, I have the following model (this is simplified but it's all there):
class Device(Model):
#stuff
class DeviceInformation(Model):
device = ForeignKey(Device, reverse='infos')
key = CharField(max_length=32)
value = CharField(max_length=1024)
When serializing a device through django-rest-framework's ModelSerializer, I get something like this:
{
//stuff
infos: [{
'key':'BatteryLevel',
'value':'80%'
},{
'key':'DeviceName',
'value':'my device'
}, //etc
]
}
Which is perfectly normal. However, it would make much more sense to serialize into something like this:
{
//stuff
infos: {
'BatteryLevel':'80%',
'DeviceName':'my device',
//etc
}
}
How do I do that? Is it even possible?
Note that I don't need to deserialize any of these information.
EDIT: my serializers are as follows:
class DeviceInfoSerializer(ModelSerializer):
class Meta:
model = DeviceInformation
fields = ('key', 'value')
read_only_fields = fields
class DeviceSerializer(HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
udid = serializers.CharField(read_only=True)
def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
super(DeviceSerializer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
if hasattr(self, 'object') and self.object and not self.many:
self.data['infos'] = DeviceInfoSerializer(
self.object.infos.all(), many=True).data
class Meta:
model = Device
fields = ['udid', 'model', 'tracked']
read_only_fields = ('model', 'tracked')
slug_field = 'udid'

Answer 1

For your readonly-case, the best way is to use SerializerMethodField.
This would change your DeviceSerializer and remove the need for your DeviceInfoSerializer.
class DeviceSerializer(HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
udid = serializers.CharField(read_only=True)
infos = serializers.SerializerMethodField('get_infos')
def get_infos(self, obj):
return {
info.key: info.value
for info in obj.infos.all()
}
class Meta:
model = Device
fields = ['udid', 'model', 'tracked', 'infos']
read_only_fields = ('model', 'tracked', 'infos')
slug_field = 'udid'