customizing request.user with a proxy model that extends Django User model

Question

class MyUser(User):
    class Meta:
        proxy = True
    def do_something:
        ...

With the above, I extend the behavior of the Django User Model using the proxy model technique. I was hoping that I could somehow customize request.user, so that MyUser instance, instead of User instance, is assigned to it every time. How could I implement that, if possible?

Answer 1

You can inherit a new middleware class from AuthMiddleware or create a separate middleware which will process request after django's auth and change request.user to your user instance.

Answer 2

I looked at code and my idea is here. Late but I think can be useful for others

In file myapp/backends.py

    from django.contrib.auth import backends
    from models import ProxyUser

    class ModelBackend(backends.ModelBackend):
        '''
        Extending to provide a proxy for user
        '''

        def get_user(self, user_id):
            try:
                user = ProxyUser.objects.get(pk=user_id)
            except ProxyUser.DoesNotExist:
                return None
            return user if self.user_can_authenticate(user) else None

And on settings.py

    AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS = (
        'myapp.backends.ModelBackend',
    )