django-api-debugger

Diagnose Django REST Framework API issues across serializers, views, permissions, and pagination.

Updated Sep 22, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/allthriveai/allthriveai --skill django-api-debugger
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: django-api-debugger
Source: https://github.com/allthriveai/allthriveai/tree/main/.claude/skills/django-api-debugger
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/allthriveai/allthriveai --skill django-api-debugger

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you quickly diagnose and fix Django REST Framework API issues, including serializer fields, viewsets, permissions, pagination, filtering, and response structure, saving hours of back-and-forth debugging.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Endpoint Diagnosis: Identify failing endpoints by tracing router patterns, views, and serializers.
  • Serializer & Field Verification: Ensure required fields are included and nested serializers are correct.
  • Permissions & Authentication Checks: Diagnose access issues, token validity, and correct permission usage.
  • Pagination & Filters Debugging: Resolve incorrect pagination or filter behavior to match client expectations.

Quick Start

Make a failing request to a DRF endpoint (e.g., http://localhost:8000/api/v1/projects/) with appropriate auth headers, then follow the debugging steps to trace issues to serializers, viewsets, or permissions.

Frequently Asked Questions about django-api-debugger

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I debug a Django REST Framework API that's returning unexpected data?

Trace the issue through your serializer fields, viewset logic, and permission settings. This Skill diagnoses serializers, views, permissions, pagination, and response formatting to identify why fields are missing, nested incorrectly, or filtered unexpectedly, then provides actionable fixes.

Why is my DRF endpoint returning a permission denied error?

Permission denials stem from misconfigured permission_classes, invalid tokens, or incorrect authentication setup. This Skill checks your endpoint's permission configuration, token validity, and authentication headers to pinpoint access issues and recommend corrections.

How do I fix pagination or filtering issues in a Django REST Framework API?

Pagination failures and unexpected filter behavior arise from misconfigured pagination settings or queryset filtering logic. This Skill traces pagination_class configuration and queryset filters to resolve mismatches between expected and actual page structure or filtered results.

Can I diagnose serializer field problems like missing or nested fields in DRF?

Yes. Serializer issues—missing fields, incorrect nesting, read_only/write_only misconfigurations—are diagnosed by verifying field inclusion, nested serializer definitions, and to_representation/to_internal_value logic to ensure the response matches your API contract.

What's the best way to troubleshoot DRF endpoint routing issues?

Endpoint routing problems are resolved by tracing router patterns to their corresponding views and serializers. This Skill maps /api/v1/ routes within core apps to verify correct view binding, serializer assignment, and configuration to eliminate routing mismatches.

Does this work with nested serializers and complex DRF configurations?

Yes. It handles nested serializers, viewset logic, custom queryset filtering, and complex permission setups across serializers, views, and permissions to diagnose data mismatches and response shape issues in advanced Django REST Framework architectures.