---

name: django-simplifier description: Simplify overly complex Django code and detect Django-specific anti-patterns. Use when user asks to simplify, refactor, or improve Django code, find N+1 queries, detect Django anti-patterns, optimize QuerySets, or analyze Django project architecture. Triggers on requests involving Django models, views, QuerySets, ORM optimization, serializers, forms, signals, middleware, or Django best practices. For general Python analysis, use the python-simplifier skill instead.

Django Code Simplifier

Transform complex Django code into clean, performant, idiomatic solutions.

Analysis Scripts

Copy# Comprehensive Django analysis (runs all Django checks)
python scripts/analyze_django.py /path/to/project

# Individual analyzers:
python scripts/find_django_issues.py .           # N+1 queries, fat views, basic issues
python scripts/find_django_antipatterns.py .     # ORM misuse, security issues, model problems
python scripts/find_django_overengineering.py .  # Unnecessary abstractions, premature patterns

# Filter by category or severity:
python scripts/find_django_antipatterns.py . --category performance
python scripts/find_django_antipatterns.py . --category security
python scripts/find_django_antipatterns.py . --min-severity medium

# JSON output for CI/tooling
python scripts/analyze_django.py . --format json > report.json

What Each Script Detects

find_django_issues.py - Basic Issues

• N+1 query risks (.all() in loops)
• .save() / .delete() / .create() in loops
• Fat views (100+ lines)
• Hardcoded URLs instead of reverse()
• Missing select_related / prefetch_related

find_django_antipatterns.py - Comprehensive Anti-Patterns

find_django_overengineering.py - Over-Engineering

Common Django Patterns

N+1 Query Prevention

Copy# Before: N+1 problem
for order in Order.objects.all():
    print(order.customer.name)  # Query per iteration!

# After: select_related (ForeignKey/OneToOne)
for order in Order.objects.select_related('customer'):
    print(order.customer.name)  # Single query

# After: prefetch_related (ManyToMany/reverse FK)
for customer in Customer.objects.prefetch_related('orders'):
    print(customer.orders.count())

Bulk Operations

Copy# Before: Loop creates (N queries)
for data in items:
    Model.objects.create(**data)

# After: bulk_create (1 query)
Model.objects.bulk_create([Model(**d) for d in items])

# Before: Loop updates
for obj in queryset:
    obj.status = 'done'
    obj.save()

# After: Single update
queryset.update(status='done')

# With F() for safe increment
from django.db.models import F
Product.objects.filter(id=1).update(stock=F('stock') - 1)

Fat View → Thin View

Copy# Before: Business logic in view
def order_view(request, order_id):
    order = Order.objects.get(id=order_id)
    # 50 lines of business logic...
    return render(...)

# After: Logic in model/service
def order_view(request, order_id):
    order = get_object_or_404(Order, id=order_id)
    result = order.process()  # Logic moved to model
    return render(request, 'order.html', {'result': result})

Signals → Explicit Methods

Copy# Before: Hidden signal
@receiver(post_save, sender=Order)
def update_inventory(sender, instance, **kwargs):
    # Hard to trace, implicit behavior
    ...

# After: Explicit method
class Order(models.Model):
    def complete(self):
        self.status = 'completed'
        self.save()
        self._update_inventory()  # Explicit, traceable

URL Best Practices

Copy# Before: Hardcoded
return redirect('/orders/123/')

# After: Named URL
from django.urls import reverse
return redirect(reverse('order-detail', args=[123]))

# Or with shortcut
from django.shortcuts import redirect
return redirect('order-detail', pk=123)

Model Best Practices

Copyclass Order(models.Model):
    # Always add __str__
    def __str__(self):
        return f"Order #{self.number}"
    
    # Use TextChoices
    class Status(models.TextChoices):
        PENDING = 'pending', 'Pending'
        COMPLETED = 'completed', 'Completed'
    
    status = models.CharField(max_length=20, choices=Status.choices)
    
    # Don't use null=True on CharField
    # BAD: name = models.CharField(null=True, blank=True)
    # GOOD:
    name = models.CharField(blank=True, default='')
    
    # Always set related_name
    customer = models.ForeignKey(Customer, related_name='orders', on_delete=models.CASCADE)
    
    class Meta:
        ordering = ['-created_at']
        indexes = [models.Index(fields=['status', 'created_at'])]

Django Over-Engineering Signs

Security Checklist

Copy# Use get_object_or_404 with ownership check
order = get_object_or_404(Order, id=id, owner=request.user)

# Never use mark_safe with user data
# BAD: mark_safe(user_input)
# GOOD:
from django.utils.html import format_html
format_html('<p>{}</p>', user_input)

# Keep secrets out of code
# BAD: SECRET_KEY = 'hardcoded-secret'
# GOOD: SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY')

When to Use What