Can I use the TidHTTP component for this?

[alank2 5]

I only have one application that needs to communicate with a web API.  I've been using the ICS TSslHttpCli/TSslContext components to do this, but I wonder if I could have one less library dependency and use the built in TIdHTTP instead.  This is essentially my communication where I am sending some JSON and then getting some JSON returned:

 

Could TIdHTTP be up for this same task?

 

  //set properties
  SslHttpCli->Timeout=300;
  SslHttpCli->SslContext=SslContext;
  SslContext->SslSessionTimeout=300;
  SslHttpCli->ContentTypePost=L"application/json";
  SslHttpCli->ServerAuth=httpAuthNtlm;

 

  SslHttpCli->SendStream=parms->senddata;
  SslHttpCli->RcvdStream=parms->recvdata;
  SslHttpCli->URL=parms->URL;
  SslHttpCli->Username=parms->Username;
  SslHttpCli->Password=parms->Password;


  try
    {
      SslHttpCli->Post();
    }
  catch (Exception &exception)
    {
      ExceptionErrorMessage(&exception, NULL, parms->exmsg, 1024);
      delete SslHttpCli;
      goto fail2;
    }

 

[Angus Robertson 519]

If you use the newer TSslHttpRest instead of TSslHttpCli, you don't need TSslContext and can simplify your application considerably. 

 

Angus

 

 

[Remy Lebeau 1255]

3 hours ago, alank2 said:

I've been using the ICS TSslHttpCli/TSslContext components to do this, but I wonder if I could have one less library dependency and use the built in TIdHTTP instead.

You could use TIdHTTP, but you would merely be substituting one library dependency for another.  Indy is not a "built-in" library, it is a 3rd party library that just happens to be pre-installed in the IDE by default.  A true native built-in solution would be to use Embarcadero's own THTTPClient/TNetHTTPClient instead, see Using an HTTP Client and What is the difference between THTTPClient and TNetHTTPClient?.

Quote

Could TIdHTTP be up for this same task?

Technically yes, for example:

#include <IdAuthenticationNTLM.hpp>
...

//set properties
IdHTTP->ConnectTimeout = ...;
IdHTTP->ReadTimeout = ...;
IdHTTP->IOHandler = IdSSLIOHandlerSocketOpenSSL;

IdHTTP->Request->ContentType = L"application/json";
IdHTTP->Request->Username = parms->Username;
IdHTTP->Request->Password = parms->Password;

try
{
    IdHTTP->Post(parms->URL, parms->senddata, parms->recvdata);
}
catch (const Exception &exception)
{
    ExceptionErrorMessage(const_cast<Exception*>(&exception), NULL, parms->exmsg, 1024);
    delete IdHTTP;
    goto fail2;
}

 

Edited August 5, 2021 by Remy Lebeau

[alank2 5]

Thank you both for the help!!

 

Angus> If you use the newer TSslHttpRest instead of TSslHttpCli, you don't need TSslContext and can simplify your application considerably. 

 

Can you elaborate on the things that would be simplified?  Do you mean the way I am using it in code, or the DLL's that need to be included, etc.

 

Remy>You could use TIdHTTP, but you would merely be substituting one library dependency for another.  Indy is not a "built-in" library, it is a 3rd party library that just happens to be pre-installed in the IDE by default. 

 

I understand, but at least as I move to newer RAD studio versions, it would move too.

 

Remy>A true native built-in solution would be to use Embarcadero's own THTTPClient/TNetHTTPClient instead, see Using an HTTP Client and What is the difference between THTTPClient and TNetHTTPClient?. 

 

Interesting - I didn't know there was another option besides Indy.  Does THTTPClient also support SSL and the type of json submit/receive that I need to do?

 

 

[Angus Robertson 519]

I suggest you build the OverbyteIcsHttpRestTst,dpr sample and it will become obvious how it is of benefit to you.

 

Angus

 

[alank2 5]

Thanks Angus; will get it out!

[Remy Lebeau 1255]

2 hours ago, alank2 said:

I understand, but at least as I move to newer RAD studio versions, [Indy] would move too.

Well.... ultimately, the goal is to actually get Indy out of the IDE installation and into GetIt.  It would still be available if you needed it, but wouldn't be forcibly installed and wasting space if you didn't need it.  But, that dream is likely not to be realized anytime in the near future...

Quote

Interesting - I didn't know there was another option besides Indy.  Does THTTPClient also support SSL and the type of json submit/receive that I need to do?

Yes.  And it doesn't rely on OpenSSL DLLs to do it, either.  It uses OS-native APIs to handle that.

Edited August 5, 2021 by Remy Lebeau

[Fr0sT.Brutal 897]

14 hours ago, alank2 said:

Interesting - I didn't know there was another option besides Indy.  Does THTTPClient also support SSL and the type of json submit/receive that I need to do?

It does its job pretty well. I recently implemented a request routine with it and I'm pretty satisfied though some things look overcomplicated (credentials, for example)