API

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Revision as of 23:58, 20 October 2012 by Malaclyps (talk | contribs)
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API for Noisebridge

This is a very simple Python WSGI App that provides a RESTful API for fun things in the Noisebridge space.

In the Noisebridge tradition, it's not stable! It will, however try to break in as noisy a way as possible if things change.

Using the API

The API is currently only available within the space. Once we have authorisation running, this will change.

The API is RESTful, and can be called at the URL:

http://api.noisebridge.net/[call]

For instance, to open the door using curl:

<source lang="bash"> curl -X POST -d open=True http://api.noisebridge.net/gate/</source>

GET /hello/[name]

Returns 'hello [name]'

GET /spaceapi/

Returns Noisebridge status, formatted as per http://hackerspaces.nl/spaceapi/

GET /gate/

Gets interesting stats about the gate. Currently:

    {
    ringing: boolean
    }

Where 'ringing' is true if the gate buzzer is ringing at that moment, or in the last few seconds, as users may push the button for a very short time. The amount of time that this state is cached is totally up to the Gateman daemon that runs to interact with the gate hardware.

POST /gate/

With open=True, opens the door. Returns a 300 error if unsuccessful, and the following additions to the /gate/ stats if successful:

    {
    open : True
    message: string
    }

With key=XXXX, will optionally check the key against the door code list.

Note that this isn't a required field. Currently if you omit the key field, the door will always open. It's intended to optionally allow other apps to offer the same door code authentication that we use for the phone booth entry.

POST /audio/

With say=[TEXT] will convert the TEXT into speech, and announce it to the space.

Adding to the API

api.py is a Bottle. It should be pretty self explanatory, even if you don't know much Python.

Just add a function of the form:

<source lang="python">@api_app.route("/myurl/") def myfunc()

   do_something_in_the_space()
   return { 'success' : True, 'OMG IT WORXORRED' }</source>

Deploying your new API

You'll need sudo powers on pony. Check out the code using git:

<source lang="bash"> git clone /var/local/noise_api/</source> Make your changes, and test them locally using

<source lang="bash"> python api.py --debug</source> When you're ready to deploy, commit the code, then pull it out to the runningversion of api.py.

<source lang="bash"> cd /var/local/noise_api/

   sudo git pull [your cloned directory goes here]
   sudo make install</source>