Q:

Turn list of JSON objects into Django model isntances

I have a huge array of JSON objects in a json file.  some objects have more keys than others, but they are all keys that are fields in a model class that I have.  I am wondering, what is the best way to iterate over each JSON object to create a model instance with the data from that object, creating null values for any field that the object does not include ?  
minerals.json (snippet)
[
    {
        "name": "Abelsonite",
        "image filename": "240px-Abelsonite_-_Green_River_Formation%2C_Uintah_County%2C_Utah%2C_USA.jpg",
        "image caption": "Abelsonite from the Green River Formation, Uintah County, Utah, US",
        "category": "Organic",
        "formula": "C<sub>31</sub>H<sub>32</sub>N<sub>4</sub>Ni",
        "strunz classification": "10.CA.20",
        "crystal system": "Triclinic",
        "unit cell": "a = 8.508 Å, b = 11.185 Åc=7.299 Å, α = 90.85°β = 114.1°, γ = 79.99°Z = 1",
        "color": "Pink-purple, dark greyish purple, pale purplish red, reddish brown",
        "crystal symmetry": "Space group: P1 or P1Point group: 1 or 1",
        "cleavage": "Probable on {111}",
        "mohs scale hardness": "2–3",
        "luster": "Adamantine, sub-metallic",
        "streak": "Pink",
        "diaphaneity": "Semitransparent",
        "optical properties": "Biaxial",
        "group": "Organic Minerals"
    },
    {
        "name": "Abernathyite",
        "image filename": "240px-Abernathyite%2C_Heinrichite-497484.jpg",
        "image caption": "Pale yellow abernathyite crystals and green heinrichite crystals",
        "category": "Arsenate",
        "formula": "K(UO<sub>2</sub>)(AsO<sub>4</sub>)·<sub>3</sub>H<sub>2</sub>O",
        "strunz classification": "08.EB.15",
        "crystal system": "Tetragonal",
        "unit cell": "a = 7.176Å, c = 18.126ÅZ = 4",
        "color": "Yellow",
        "crystal symmetry": "H-M group: 4/m 2/m 2/mSpace group: P4/ncc",
        "cleavage": "Perfect on {001}",
        "mohs scale hardness": "2.5–3",
        "luster": "Sub-Vitreous, resinous, waxy, greasy",
        "streak": "Pale yellow",
        "diaphaneity": "Transparent",
        "optical properties": "Uniaxial (-)",
        "refractive index": "nω = 1.597 – 1.608nε = 1.570",
        "group": "Arsenates"
    },
    {
        "name": "Abhurite",
        "image filename": "240px-Abhurite_-_Shipwreck_Hydra%2C_South_coast_of_Norway.jpg",
        "image caption": "Brownish tabular crystals of abhurite from Shipwreck \"Hydra\", South coast of Norway",
        "category": "Halide",
        "formula": "Sn<sub>21</sub>O<sub>6</sub>(OH)<sub>14</sub>Cl<sub>16</sub>",
        "strunz classification": "03.DA.30",
        "crystal symmetry": "Trigonal",
        "group": "Halides"
    },
]

models.py
from django.db import models

class Mineral(models. Model):
    name = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    category = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    formula = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    crystal_system = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    unit_cell = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    color = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    cleavage = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    crystal_symmetry = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    mohs_scale = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    image_caption = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    image_filename = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)
    strunz_classification = models. CharField(max_length=300, null=True, blank=True)

    def __str__(self):
        return self.name

A:

hasattr and setattr can be very useful to solve your problem. ( docs)
def convert(jsonObject, model):
    modelObject = model()
    for key in jsonObject:
        if hasattr(modelObject, key):
            setattr(modelObject, key, jsonObject[key])

    return modelObject

converted = list()
for item in jsonArray:
    mineral = convert(item, Mineral)
    mineral.save()
    converted.append(mineral)

