How to send data via POST or GET in Mod_Python?

Question

With JS, i send a AJAX post request.

 $.ajax(
        {method:"POST",
        url:"https://my/website/send_data.py",
        data:JSON.stringify(data),
        contentType: 'application/json;charset=UTF-8'

On my Apache2 mod_Python server, I wish for my python file to access data. How can i do this?

def index(req):
    # data = ??

PS: here is how to reproduce the problem. Create testjson.html:

<script type="text/javascript">
xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open("POST", "testjson.py");
xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
xhr.onreadystatechange = function(res) { console.log(xhr.responseText); };
xhr.send(JSON.stringify({'foo': '0', 'bar': '1'}));
</script>

and create testjson.py containing:

from mod_python import apache 

def index(req):
    req.content_type = "application/json"
    req.write("hello")
    data = req.read()
    return apache.OK

Create a .htaccess containing:

AddHandler mod_python .py
PythonHandler mod_python.publisher

Here is the result:

testjson.html:10 POST http://localhost/test_py/testjson.py 501 (Not Implemented)

@fedterzi Unless i'm mistaking those posts are related to vanilla Python, not to mod_python frameworks. — Mitchell van Zuylen, Apr 10 '17 at 14:46
@fedterzi No, it's not a duplicate, it's specific to mod_python. — Basj, Feb 13 '20 at 13:09
@MitchellvanZuylen How did you solve the problem in the meantime? Thanks in advance! — Basj, Feb 13 '20 at 13:10
Sorry. I stepped away from Apache and mod_python, instead now using django with nginx. — Mitchell van Zuylen, Feb 14 '20 at 10:09
But, possibly the same code is usable. Within the index function i set `data = req.POST.get('data',False)` — Mitchell van Zuylen, Feb 14 '20 at 10:10
@MitchellvanZuylen Could you post this as an answer? A general answer working for mod_python would be great. — Basj, Feb 17 '20 at 12:58
@Basj I can't be sure if this will work with mod_python. I no longer have a setup running mod_python. — Mitchell van Zuylen, Feb 17 '20 at 18:21

Basj · Accepted Answer · 2020-02-21T16:08:12.997

As pointed by Grisha (mod_python's author) in a private communication, here is the reason why application/json is not supported and outputs a "HTTP 501 Not implemented" error:

https://github.com/grisha/mod_python/blob/master/lib/python/mod_python/util.py#L284

The solution is either to modify this, or to use a regular application/x-www-form-urlencoded encoding, or to use something else than the mod_python.publisher handler.

Example with mod_python and PythonHandler mod_python.publisher:

<script type="text/javascript">
var data = JSON.stringify([1, 2, 3, '&=test', "jkl", {'foo': 'bar'}]); // the data to send
xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open("POST", "testjson.py");
xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
xhr.onreadystatechange = function(res) { console.log(xhr.responseText); };
xhr.send('data=' + encodeURIComponent(data));
</script>

Server-side:

import json
from mod_python import apache 

def index(req):
    data = json.loads(req.form['data'])
    x = data[-1]['foo']
    req.write("value: " + x)

Output:

value: bar

Success!

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 19 '20 at 14:00

1

From Mod_python docs:

Client data, such as POST requests, can be read by using the request.read() function.

answered Feb 19 '20 at 14:00

A K

788
6
17

Thank you for this answer, but this does not work in the case of a `application/json` request. See the end of the updated question, are you able to reproduce the problem too? – Basj Feb 20 '20 at 10:33
OK. It seems like a configuration problem. – A K Feb 20 '20 at 15:30
I tried on another fresh server wtih apache, mod_php, python, etc. and it's the same: HTTP 501 not implemented. When I do a GET it works with HTTP 200. Also OP had the same problem. So at least on 3 machines we were able to reproduce the same error. – Basj Feb 20 '20 at 15:34
I answered in a new answer, as it is something else. – A K Feb 20 '20 at 15:40

Prakhar Londhe · Answer 3 · 2020-02-20T09:58:38.837

0

From the Mod Python docs here.

Here you can do, for example to get the data

def index(req):
    data = req.read()

Additional Links : http://vandermerwe.co.nz/?p=9

edited Feb 20 '20 at 09:58

answered Feb 20 '20 at 09:46

Prakhar Londhe

1,431
1
12
26

Thank you for this answer, but this does not work in the case of a `application/json` request. See the end of the updated question. – Basj Feb 20 '20 at 10:32
Maybe take a look at the website, I think the author ran into a similar problem there. – Prakhar Londhe Feb 20 '20 at 10:38
@prakharlondhe Can you link to the location? `the website` is a little vague. – Mitchell van Zuylen Feb 20 '20 at 11:11

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 20 '20 at 15:36

0

As I said, from the new edition it looks like a configuration problem.

First, try to set PythonPath directive.

Secondly, the PythonHandler should be your file, i.e.:

PythonHandler testjson

answered Feb 20 '20 at 15:36

A K

788
6
17

In fact I want to keep `PythonHandler mod_python.publisher` because this allows `example.com/hello.py` to be automatically mapped to running `hello.py`, `example.com/login.py` to be automatically mapped to running `login.py`, instead of hardcoding only one `PythonHandler` and working with only 1 .py file. – Basj Feb 20 '20 at 15:51
Look here: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/MODPYTHON-29, and here: http://modpython.org/pipermail/mod_python/2007-May/023761.html – A K Feb 20 '20 at 20:51

How to send data via POST or GET in Mod_Python?

4 Answers4