Finally got order_by fixed so sorting actually works properly with relationships and "identifier."

crudkit/dsl.py

@@ -74,6 +74,17 @@ def _related_predicate(Model, path_parts, op_key, value):
     # wrap at this hop using the *attribute*, not the RelationshipProperty
     return attr.any(pred) if rel.uselist else attr.has(pred)
 
+def split_sort_tokens(tokens):
+    simple, dotted = [], []
+    for tok in (tokens or []):
+        if not tok:
+            continue
+        key = tok.lstrip("-")
+        if ":" in key:
+            key = key.split(":", 1)[0]
+        (dotted if "." in key else simple).append(tok)
+    return simple, dotted
+
 def build_query(Model, spec: QuerySpec, eager_policy=None):
     stmt = select(Model)
 
@@ -102,11 +113,25 @@ def build_query(Model, spec: QuerySpec, eager_policy=None):
             continue
         stmt = stmt.where(FILTER_OPS[op_key](col, val) if op_key else (col == val))
 
-    # order_by
-    for key in spec.order_by:
-        desc_ = key.startswith("-")
-        col = getattr(Model, key[1:] if desc_ else key)
-        stmt = stmt.order_by(desc(col) if desc_ else asc(col))
+    simple_sorts, _ = split_sort_tokens(spec.order_by)
+
+    for token in simple_sorts:
+        direction = "asc"
+        key = token
+        if token.startswith("-"):
+            direction = "desc"
+            key = token[1:]
+        if ":" in key:
+            key, d = key.rsplit(":", 1)
+            direction = "desc" if d.lower().startswith("d") else "asc"
+
+        if "." in key:
+            continue
+
+        col = getattr(Model, key, None)
+        if col is None:
+            continue
+        stmt = stmt.order_by(desc(col) if direction == "desc" else asc(col))
 
     if not spec.order_by and spec.page and spec.per_page:
         pk_cols = inspect(Model).primary_key