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FootyCollect provides comprehensive user profile features that allow you to personalize your presence, control who sees your collection, and connect with other collectors.

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Profile Information

Your FootyCollect profile includes:

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Basic Information

  • Username: Your unique identifier (required, cannot be changed)
  • Email: For notifications and account recovery (required, unique)
  • Display Name: Your full name or nickname (optional)
  • Biography: Tell other collectors about yourself and your collection (optional)
  • Location: Where you’re located (optional)
A complete profile helps you connect with other collectors in your area or with similar interests.

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Avatar

Upload a custom avatar to personalize your profile:
  • Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF
  • Automatic optimization: Avatars are converted to AVIF format
  • Size limit: 15 MB maximum
  • Recommended size: At least 400×400 pixels for best quality
class User(AbstractUser):
    name = models.CharField(_("Name and last name"), blank=True, max_length=255)
    biography = models.TextField(_("Biography"), blank=True)
    location = models.CharField(_("Location"), max_length=100, blank=True)
    avatar = models.ImageField(
        _("Avatar"),
        upload_to=avatar_file_name,
        blank=True,
        validators=[validate_avatar],
    )
    avatar_avif = models.ImageField(
        upload_to="avatars_avif/", 
        blank=True, 
        null=True
    )
Like item photos, avatars are automatically optimized to AVIF format for faster loading and reduced bandwidth usage.

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Favorite Teams

Link your profile to your favorite clubs: 
favourite_teams = models.ManyToManyField(Club, blank=True)
  • Multiple clubs: Add as many favorite teams as you like
  • Display on profile: Favorite teams appear on your public profile
  • Collection filtering: Quickly filter your collection by favorite teams

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Privacy Controls

FootyCollect offers granular privacy controls for your profile and collection:

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Profile Privacy

Control who can view your profile: 
is_private = models.BooleanField(default=False)

Public Profile

Your profile, biography, and public items are visible to all users

Private Profile

Only you can see your profile and collection. You don’t appear in user searches

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Item-Level Privacy

Each item has its own privacy setting: 
class BaseItem(models.Model):
    is_private = models.BooleanField(default=False)
    is_draft = models.BooleanField(default=True)
Privacy States:
StatePublic ProfilePrivate Profile
Public ItemVisible to everyoneOnly visible to you
Private ItemOnly visible to youOnly visible to you
Draft ItemOnly visible to youOnly visible to you
Even with a public profile, items marked as private or draft are never visible to other users. You have complete control over each item’s visibility.

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Privacy Workflow

Typical privacy workflow when adding items:
  1. Create item as draft (default): Item is only visible to you
  2. Complete details and photos: Work on your item privately
  3. Publish item: Change is_draft to False
  4. Set privacy: Choose public or private
    • Public: Appears in feeds and searches
    • Private: Only you can see it

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Collection Visibility

Control what parts of your collection are visible:

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Public Collection

With a public profile and public items:
  • Items appear in the global feed
  • Items appear in search results
  • Other users can view item details
  • Your profile shows collection statistics
  • Users can browse your collection

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Private Collection

With a private profile or private items:
  • Items don’t appear in feeds
  • Items don’t appear in searches
  • Only you can view and manage items
  • Profile shows no collection data to others
You can mix public and private items in your collection:
# Your complete collection
total_items = BaseItem.objects.filter(user=user).count()
# Returns: 100 items

# Public items (visible to others)
public_items = BaseItem.objects.filter(
    user=user,
    is_private=False,
    is_draft=False
).count()
# Returns: 75 items

# Private items (only you see these)
private_items = BaseItem.objects.filter(
    user=user,
    is_private=True
).count()
# Returns: 15 items

# Drafts (work in progress)
drafts = BaseItem.objects.filter(
    user=user,
    is_draft=True
).count()
# Returns: 10 items
Other users would only see your 75 public items. You maintain 15 private items (maybe rare pieces you don’t want to publicize) and 10 drafts you’re still working on.

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Profile URL

Each user has a unique profile URL: 
def get_absolute_url(self) -> str:
    return reverse("users:detail", kwargs={"username": self.username})
Example: https://footycollect.com/users/johncollector/
Share your profile URL with other collectors to showcase your public collection.

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Account Timestamps

FootyCollect tracks account activity: 
created_at = models.DateTimeField(
    _("Created at"),
    default=timezone.now,
    editable=False,
)
updated_at = models.DateTimeField(
    _("Updated at"),
    default=timezone.now,
    editable=False,
)
  • Created at: When you registered your account
  • Updated at: Last profile modification (automatically updated)

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Collection Statistics

Your profile displays collection statistics: 
summary = item_service.get_user_collection_summary(user)

# Public statistics visible on your profile:
{
    "total_items": 150,
    "by_type": {
        "jersey": 120,
        "shorts": 15,
        "outerwear": 10,
        "tracksuit": 5
    },
    "by_brand": {
        "Nike": 60,
        "Adidas": 50,
        "Puma": 30
    },
    "by_club": {
        "Real Madrid": 20,
        "Barcelona": 18,
        "Manchester United": 15
    },
    "recent_items": [<5 most recent items>]
}
Statistics only include public items when viewed by other users. You see complete statistics including private items when viewing your own profile.

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Avatar Optimization

Avatars receive the same optimization treatment as item photos: 
def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
    super().save(*args, **kwargs)
    self.create_avif_version()

def create_avif_version(self):
    if not self.avatar_avif and self.avatar:
        optimized = optimize_image(self.avatar)
        if optimized:
            self.avatar_avif.save(
                optimized.name,
                optimized,
                save=False,
            )
            super().save(update_fields=["avatar_avif"])

def get_avatar_url(self):
    return self.avatar_avif.url if self.avatar_avif else self.avatar.url
Benefits:
  • Faster loading: AVIF format is 50% smaller than JPEG
  • Better quality: Superior compression preserves detail
  • Automatic: No manual optimization needed
  • Fallback: Original format used if AVIF fails

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Profile Customization Best Practices

  1. Complete your profile: Fill in name, biography, and location
  2. Upload a clear avatar: Use a recognizable photo or logo
  3. List favorite teams: Help others find you based on shared interests
  4. Write a biography: Share your collecting focus or interests
  5. Curate public items: Only publish items you want to showcase
  6. Use privacy strategically: Keep rare items private if concerned about security

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Privacy Strategy Examples

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Full Public Profile

user.is_private = False  # Public profile
item.is_private = False  # Public items
item.is_draft = False    # Published items
Best for:
  • Showcasing your collection
  • Connecting with other collectors
  • Building your reputation in the community

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Selective Sharing

user.is_private = False     # Public profile

# Mix of public and private items
common_item.is_private = False   # Share common items
rare_item.is_private = True      # Hide rare/valuable items
Best for:
  • Sharing part of your collection
  • Protecting valuable items
  • Maintaining some privacy

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Fully Private

user.is_private = True   # Private profile
# All items are private by default
Best for:
  • Personal cataloging only
  • Insurance documentation
  • Private record keeping

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Security Considerations

If your collection includes valuable items, consider:
  • Using a private profile or marking valuable items as private
  • Not listing exact locations in your profile
  • Being cautious about sharing collection value publicly
  • Using strong, unique passwords
  • Enabling two-factor authentication (if available)

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Profile Analytics

Track your collection growth: 
# Items added this month
from django.utils import timezone
from datetime import timedelta

this_month = timezone.now() - timedelta(days=30)
recent_items = BaseItem.objects.filter(
    user=user,
    created_at__gte=this_month
).count()

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Community Features

With a public profile, you can:
  • Appear in feeds: Your public items show in the global feed
  • Be discoverable: Other users can find your profile
  • Share your collection: Send your profile URL to friends
  • Build connections: Connect with collectors who share your interests
FootyCollect is designed to balance community sharing with privacy control. You choose exactly what to share and what to keep private.