Simple HTTP request

http_request.rb

require 'net/http'
require 'uri'

# Simple HTTP request
# 
# See also:
#   http://addressable.rubyforge.org/
#   http://dev.ctor.org/http-access2
# 
def http_request(method, uri, query_hash = {}, user = nil, pass = nil)
  uri = URI.parse(uri) if uri.is_a? String
  method = method.to_s.strip.downcase
  query_string = (query_hash||{}).map{|k,v|
    URI.encode(k.to_s) + "=" + URI.encode(v.to_s)
  }.join("&")

  if method == "post"
    args = [Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri.path), query_string]
  else
    args = [Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri.path + (query_string.empty? ? "" : "?#{query_string}"))]
  end
  args[0].basic_auth(user, pass) if user

  Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port) do |http|
    return http.request(*args)
  end
end


# Simple HTTP request with redirection.
def http_request2(method, uri, query_hash = {}, user = nil, pass = nil, max_redirection = 3)
  response = http_request(method, uri, query_hash, user, pass)

  case response
  when Net::HTTPSuccess
    return response
  when Net::HTTPRedirection
    raise ArgumentError, 'Too many redirection.' if max_redirection <= 0
    return http_request2(method, response["location"], query_hash, user, pass, max_redirection - 1)
  else
    response.error!
  end
end