Django REST framework: AttributeError: Serializer object has no attribute 'Meta'

Question

Given the following model and serializer for a Django REST framework setup:

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from django.db import models

class StationReport(models.Model):

    water_level = models.IntegerField(max_length=5, blank=False)
    user_name = models.CharField(max_length=256, blank=False)
    email_address = models.CharField(max_length=256, blank=True)
    recorded_at = models.DateTimeField(blank=False)
    created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
    modified_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)

...

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

from rest_framework import serializers
from models import StationReport

class StationReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
    water_level = serializers.IntegerField(required=True)
    user_name = serializers.CharField(required=True)
    email_address = serializers.CharField(required=False)
    recorded_at = serializers.DateTimeField(required=True)

    def create(self, validated_data):
        return StationReport.objects.create(**validated_data)

    def update(self, instance, validated_data):
        instance.water_level = validated_data.get('water_level', instance.water_level)
        instance.user_name = validated_data.get('user_name', instance.user_name)
        instance.email_address = validated_data.get('email_address', instance.email_address)
        instance.recorded_at = validated_data.get('recorded_at', instance.recorded_at)
        instance.save()
        return instance

Why am I receiving this AttributeError when I visit http://localhost:8000/stationreports/?

AttributeError at /stationreports/

'StationReportSerializer' object has no attribute 'Meta'

Request Method:     GET
Request URL:    http://localhost:8000/stationreports/
Django Version:     1.7.3
Exception Type:     AttributeError
Exception Value:    

'StationReportSerializer' object has no attribute 'Meta'

I followed the first part of the Serializers tutorial which does not seem to work in the presented form. I already tried to remove the Meta class in the model but still the error occurs.

The problem reason

For some reason I did not exactly follow the mentioned Serializers tutorial. My given example works when I change the following:

Before:

class GaugeReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
    water_level = serializers.IntegerField(required=True, max_length=5)

After:

class GaugeReportSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
    water_level = serializers.IntegerField(required=True)

I think this mistake happened because I did the Quickstart tutorial before.

Answer 1

Because you don't have a Meta class defined.

In Django REST Framework, Meta classes are not inherited from their parent classes.

class StationReportSerializer(serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
    class Meta:
        model = StationReport

The above should solve your problem.

http://www.django-rest-framework.org/api-guide/serializers/#inheritance-of-the-meta-class