refinements to API

web/app/api.py

 # @creation_date: 2023-01-12
 # @license: The MIT License <https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>
 # @author: Simon Bowie <ad7588@coventry.ac.uk>
-# @purpose: Exposes database data as exportable JSON for an API
+# @purpose: Exposes database data as exportable JSON for a RESTful API
 # @acknowledgements:
+# https://auth0.com/blog/developing-restful-apis-with-python-and-flask/
+# https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59721478/serializing-sqlalchemy-with-marshmallow
 
 from flask import Blueprint, render_template, request, flash, redirect, url_for, jsonify
 from flask_login import login_required, current_user
 
 api = Blueprint('api', __name__)
 
+# route for api page
+@api.route('/api')
+def api_page():
+    return render_template('api.html')
+
 # route for exporting all users in database
 @api.route('/api/users')
 @login_required
     # return all rows as a JSON array of objects
     return jsonify(result)
 
+def get_resource_json(type):
+    resources = Resource.query.filter_by(type=type)
+    if (type=='tool'):
+        resources_schema = ToolSchema(many=True)
+    elif (type=='practice'):
+        resources_schema = PracticeSchema(many=True)
+    elif (type=='book'):
+        resources_schema = BookSchema(many=True)
+    result = resources_schema.dump(resources)
+    # return all rows as a JSON array of objects
+    result = jsonify(result)
+
+    return result
+
 # route for exporting all tools in database
 @api.route('/api/tools')
 def get_tools():
     type = 'tool'
-    resources = Resource.query.filter_by(type=type)
-    resources_schema = ToolSchema(many=True)
-    result = resources_schema.dump(resources)
-
-    # return all rows as a JSON array of objects
-    return jsonify(result)
+    output = get_resource_json(type)
+    return output
 
 # route for exporting all practices in database
 @api.route('/api/practices')
 def get_practices():
     type = 'practice'
-    resources = Resource.query.filter_by(type=type)
-    resources_schema = PracticeSchema(many=True)
-    result = resources_schema.dump(resources)
-
-    # return all rows as a JSON array of objects
-    return jsonify(result)
+    output = get_resource_json(type)
+    return output
 
 # route for exporting all books in database
 @api.route('/api/books')
 def get_books():
     type = 'book'
-    resources = Resource.query.filter_by(type=type)
-    resources_schema = BookSchema(many=True)
-    result = resources_schema.dump(resources)
-
-    # return all rows as a JSON array of objects
-    return jsonify(result)
+    output = get_resource_json(type)
+    return output

web/app/schemas.py

 # @author: Simon Bowie <ad7588@coventry.ac.uk>
 # @purpose: Data schemas for API export
 # @acknowledgements:
+# https://marshmallow.readthedocs.io/en/stable/quickstart.html#next-steps
+# https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59721478/serializing-sqlalchemy-with-marshmallow
 
 from . import ma
 from marshmallow import Schema

web/app/templates/api.html

+{% block content %}
+
+<a href="/api/users">Users</a> (login required)
+
+<br><br>
+
+<a href="/api/tools">Tools</a>
+
+<br><br>
+
+<a href="/api/practices">Practices</a>
+
+<br><br>
+
+<a href="/api/books">Books</a>
+
+<br><br>
+
+{% endblock %}