Get download count for a Ruby gem using the RubyGems.org API

get_gem_downloads.rb

def get_downloads(gem_name, version=nil)
  # query rubygems api for total downloads of gem_name for the given version
  # return integer of downloads
  # if version is nil, return total downloads of the latest version
  # requires uri, net/http, and json
  if version == nil
    uri = URI("https://rubygems.org/api/v1/gems/#{gem_name}.json")
    response = Net::HTTP.get_response(uri)
    res = JSON.parse(response.body) if response.is_a?(Net::HTTPSuccess)
    res["downloads"]
  else
    uri = URI("https://rubygems.org/api/v1/downloads/#{gem_name}-#{version}.json")
    response = Net::HTTP.get_response(uri)
    res = JSON.parse(response.body) if response.is_a?(Net::HTTPSuccess)
    res["total_downloads"]
  end
end