POST JSON document, basic auth, and HTTPS (Ruby Net::HTTP)

question.rb

require 'net/http'
require 'uri'
require 'json'

def question
  uri = URI.parse("https://example.com/questions")
  request = Net::HTTP::Post.new uri.request_uri

  # basic auth.
  request.basic_auth("user", "pass")

  # set headers.
  request["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
  request["X-SyncTimeout"] = "-1"

  # set data.
  request.body = {"value" => "How do I lose weight?", "predefinedAnswerUnit" => "Body Composition : Weight Loss", "state" => "APPROVED"}.to_json

  # send request.
  response = Net::HTTP.start(uri.host, uri.port, :use_ssl => uri.scheme == 'https') do |http|
    http.request request
  end

  JSON.parse response.body
end

puts question