CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++ruby-on-railsxml-rpcactiveresource
matejk
matejk

Reputation: 818

Convert custom API to Ruby on Rails ActiveResource

I have a set of embedded devices that run software written in c++. The API to communicate the devices is simple: get/set/acquire parameters and signals.

I'd like to implement common web application to access all of the devices from a single point.

My idea was to add XML RPC interface to devices and then use ActiveResource to access devices from the web server. This combination doesn't seem to be used at all in practice.

I'm free to choose any protocol inside the devices. What are your recommendations?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 325

Answers (2)

mikewilliamson
mikewilliamson

Reputation: 24793

You probably won't find much XML RPC stuff in the Rails community. Rails itself really pushes you towards RESTful web services. Specifically a resource-oriented RESTful architecture. There are great books out there about it but it comes down to using http methods (get, put, post, delete) instead of passing parameters and then some intelligent URLS.

Upvotes: 1

Andy Gaskell
Andy Gaskell

Reputation: 31761

If you're already considering XML RPC I'm assuming you have some sort of web server running on the device. I would probably choose a RESTful web service over XML RPC. If designed carefully you could have corresponding services on your Rails app.

For example:

http://somedevice/signals.json - gets all signals

http://yourrailsapp/somedevice/signals.json - gets somedevice's signals; you could use an id instead here if that makes more sense (http://yourrailsapp/devices/1/signals.json).

Upvotes: 1

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