Lua-driven nginx config to make my website's SSL redirect work with App.net domain validation. App.net does not follow redirects during the validation process. This config ensures the validator gets a response code and body it understands.

gistfile1.nginxconf

# http->https redirect
server {
    listen 207.192.74.235:80;
    server_name sixohthree.com;

    include logging.conf;
    access_log /var/www/sixohthree.com/logs/access_log custom;
    error_log  /var/www/sixohthree.com/logs/error_log  error;

    location / {
        content_by_lua '
            -- app.net doesn't follow my ssl redirect; make sure they get my rel=me link
            if ngx.var.remote_addr == "204.124.19.120" then
                ngx.say("<a href=https://alpha.app.net/abackstrom rel=me></a>")
            end
        ';

        rewrite_by_lua '
            -- dont redirect app.net, they need content_by_lua
            if ngx.var.remote_addr == "204.124.19.120" then
                return
            end

            local url = "https://" .. ngx.var.host .. ngx.var.uri

            if ngx.var.args ~= nil then
                url = url .. "?" .. ngx.var.args
            end

            return ngx.redirect(url);
        ';
    }
}