Using NetHTTP within Rails to hit Rails

Question

We have a very unique use case where we want a Rails controller to access a route within the Rails app using Net::HTTP. Can this be done? I'm currently receiving a timeout when attempting to do so. The current code works when the uri is a separate Rails app, but not when the uri belongs to the app itself. Here's the gist of the current controller action:

def export_data
  uri = URI("http://localhost:3000")
  @data = JSON.parse( Net::HTTP.get(uri) )

  respond_to do |format|
    ...
  end
end

Forget why we want to do this. Why doesn't this work? Is there a modification that can be made to get it to work? Thanks in advance!

I'd recommend you just directly invoke the method behind your target URL since you're already on the server. — Daniel J. Pritchett, Jun 06 '13 at 19:16
This is actually a unique case where we don't want to do that, since we plan on separating this into a separate app in the near future. — Rebitzele, Jun 06 '13 at 19:21

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 06 '13 at 19:13

8

It doesn't work because you are not using a multi-threaded server. Your request is coming in and blocking the server until it's complete. During that time, you're making a request to your localhost that isn't being handled.

Easy solution? Try puma. Other easy solution, spin up two rails instances, connect to the 2nd instance.

answered Jun 06 '13 at 19:13

Jesse Wolgamott

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Ah! Thanks so much! So, to clarify: Since Thin (the localhost server we're using) is in the middle of sending a request, it can't also receive a request. Is that right? – Rebitzele Jun 06 '13 at 19:18
That's correct. If you spin up a localhost:3001, you could connect to it. (or have a multithreaded server) – Jesse Wolgamott Jun 06 '13 at 19:19

Using NetHTTP within Rails to hit Rails

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