Webservice APIs

1. Import the required modules in my_api.py.

import json
import urllib.request

2. Create a function called load_data with a url parameter.

def load_data(url):

3. Make a request to the web service.

response = urllib.request.urlopen(url)

4. Return the JSON response as Python data.

return json.loads(response.read())

5. Create a second function called get_quote.

def get_quote():
    quote = load_data("https://zenquotes.io/api/random")[0]

6. Explore the API output in a JSON formatter.

Open jsonformatter.org and compare the response structure with the example below.

Screenshot showing the formatted quote API JSON

JSON guide

The API returns a list containing one dictionary.
[0] gets the first dictionary from the list.
quote['q'] gets the quote text.
quote['a'] gets the author.

7. Notice the keys: q for quote, a for author, and h for HTML.

[
  {
    "q": "It's necessary to get the losers out of your life if you want to live your dream.",
    "a": "Les Brown",
    "h": "<blockquote>&ldquo;It's necessary to get the losers out of your life if you want to live your dream.&rdquo; &mdash; <footer>Les Brown</footer></blockquote>"
  }
]

“It's necessary to get the losers out of your life if you want to live your dream.” - Les Brown

8. Update get_quote() so it returns only the quote and author.

return f"{quote['q']} - {quote['a']}"

9. Import the API module in main.py.

import my_api as ma

10. Add a show_quote procedure in main.py.

def show_quote(quote):
    '''Your code goes here'''

11. Wrap the quote text so it fits the window.

def show_quote(quote):
  words = quote.split(' ')
  max_width = SIZE[0] - 100
  x = 50
  y = 20
  while words:
    line = ''
    while words and FONT.size(line + words[0])[0] <= max_width:
      line += (words.pop(0) + ' ')
    line_label = FONT.render(line, True, WHITE)
    SCREEN.blit(line_label, (x, y))
    y += FONT.get_height()

12. Generate a quote near the bottom of main.py.

# Quotes
QUOTE = ma.get_quote()

13. Display the quote in the SHOW_HIGH_SCORES state.

elif game_state == SHOW_HIGH_SCORES:
    show_quote(QUOTE)
    show_high_scores()

Webservice APIs

See the finished idea first

What should happen?

Work through the challenge

JSON guide

Code the project in the browser