Customize our conference wait room to read the most popular stories today from the New York Times API.

app.py

from flask import Flask
from twilio import twiml

# First, we'll add your favorite HTTP client and mine, Requests
import requests
 
app = Flask(__name__)
# First, we give our app the key we retrieved from the 
# New York Times API developer dashboard
app.config['NYTIMES_API_KEY'] = "key_we_registered"

# Next, we'll define the API request we will use to
# retrieve the most popular stories of the day to
# read to our users.
app.config['API_PATH'] = \
    "http://api.nytimes.com/svc/mostpopular/v2/"\
    "mostviewed/all-sections/1.json?api-key="

# Keep our conference room same as before.
@app.route('/conference', methods=['POST'])
def voice():
    response = twiml.Response() 
    with response.dial() as dial:
        dial.conference("Today's Headlines", waitUrl="/wait")
    return str(response)
 
# Now we'll customize our wait room to read from the New York Times API.
@app.route('/wait', methods=['POST'])
def wait():
    # Create a TwiML response, just like before.
    response = twiml.Response()
    
    # Make sure we set our API key in the app's config dictionary
    # up at the top of this snippet.
    if app.config['NYTIMES_API_KEY']:
        # With our API key set, we'll ask the NYT to give us the Most
        # Popular stories today.
        api_request = requests.get("%s%s" % (app.config['API_PATH'],
            app.config['NYTIMES_API_KEY']))
        # If we get a successful response, we'll take a look at the
        # results.
        if api_request.status_code == 200:
            # Parse the data we received with the Requests' module's
            # handy built-in JSON parser.
            json_response = api_request.json()
            # If we have valid JSON, give the caller a quick introduction.
            if json_response:
                response.say("While you wait for your conference to connect," \
                        " here are today's headlines from the New York Times.",
                        voice="alice")
                # Iterate through all the results to get the dictionary
                # for each news story.
                for result in json_response['results']:
                    # Use the Alice voice with the Say verb to read the
                    # summary of the story to the caller.
                    response.say(result['abstract'], voice='alice')
                    # Add a courteous pause so the caller knows Alice
                    # has moved on to the next story.
                    response.pause()
            else:
                # If we didn't get JSON, let the caller know.
                response.say("Unable to parse result from New York Times API.")
        else:
            # If we couldn't get a successful request, let the caller know.
            response.say("Unable to reach New York Times API.")
            response.say("Check your configuration and logs for the error.")
    else:
        # Finally, if we did not set the API key, also let the caller know
        # and point to some resources for help with fixing this
        # configuration error.
        response.say("Configuration error: You need to set your New York " \
                "Times API Key environment variable. See the README for " \
                "more information.")

    # Whatever result we have, turn it into TwiML and hand it over
    # to Twilio to process for the hold room.
    return str(response)
 
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
    port = os.environ.get(5000)
    if port == 5000:
        app.debug = True
    app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=port)