flask_chat_by_url.py

"""A very basic url-based chat"""
from flask import Flask, redirect

app = Flask(__name__)  # the flask application object
messages = ['System: Hi everyone']  # a global object for all chat messages


def all_messages():
    """Helper function to get a string of all chat messages, one per line"""
    return '<br>'.join(messages)


@app.route('/')
def hello():
    """Main page, with instructions"""
    return 'Hi, chat by getting the resource /chat/USERNAME/MESSAGE'


@app.route('/chat/<username>')
def view_chat(username):
    """Chat view page, personalised for the user"""
    return '<h1>Welcome, {}</h1>{}'.format(username, all_messages())


@app.route('/chat/<username>/<message>')
def new_message(username, message=None):
    """A special page used to post new chat messages; redirects to chat"""
    messages.append("{}: {}".format(username, message))
    return redirect('/chat/{}'.format(username))


# Run the server with debug mode enabled, to reload when code changes
app.run(debug=True)