authentication_tests.rb

require "net/http"
require "uri"

base_url = 'www.instapaper.com'
path_url = '/api/authenticate/'

username = 'instatest'
pwd = ''

#1st version

Net::HTTP.get_print base_url, path_url

#2nd version

Net::HTTP.start(base_url) {|http|
  req = Net::HTTP::Get.new(path_url)
  req.basic_auth username, pwd
  response = http.request(req)
  print response.body
}

#3rd version

url = URI.parse('http://'+base_url+path_url)
req = Net::HTTP::Post.new(url.path)
req.basic_auth username, pwd
#req.set_form_data({'from'=>'2005-01-01', 'to'=>'2005-03-31'}, ';')
res = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port).start { |http| http.request(req) }
case res
when Net::HTTPSuccess, Net::HTTPRedirection
  # OK
else
  res.error!
end