datasette-remote-metadata 0.2a0
Periodically refresh Datasette metadata from a remote URL
License: Apache License, Version 2.0
Requires Python: >=3.6

# datasette-remote-metadata

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Periodically refresh Datasette metadata from a remote URL

## Installation

Install this plugin in the same environment as Datasette.

```bash
datasette install datasette-remote-metadata
```
The alpha version of this plugin requires [Datasette 1.0a14](https://docs.datasette.io/en/1.0a14/changelog.html#a14-2024-08-05) or higher.

## Usage

Add the following to your `datasette.yml`:

```yaml
plugins:
  datasette-remote-metadata:
    url: "https://example.com/remote-metadata.yml"
```

Then start Datasette like this:
```bash
datasette mydatabase.db -c datasette.yml
```

The plugin will fetch the specified metadata  from that URL at startup and combine it with any existing metadata. You can use a URL to either a JSON file or a YAML file.

It will periodically refresh that metadata - by default every 30 seconds, unless you specify an alternative `"ttl"` value in the plugin configuration.

You can also use the `datasette -s` option to configure the plugin without a configuration file:
```bash
datasette \
  -s plugins.datasette-remote-metadata.url 'https://example.com/remote-metadata.yml' \
  -s plugins.datasette-remote-metadata.ttl 2 \
  mydatabase.db
```
## Configuration

Available configuration options are as follows:

- `"url"` - the URL to retrieve remote metadata from. Can link to a JSON or a YAML file.
- `"ttl"` - integer value in secords: how frequently should the script check for fresh metadata. Defaults to 30 seconds.
- `"headers"` - a dictionary of additional request headers to send.
- `"cachebust"` - if true, a random `?0.29508` value will be added to the query string of the remote metadata to bust any intermediary caches.

This example `datasette.yml` configuration refreshes every 10 seconds, uses cache busting and sends an `Authorization: Bearer xyz` header with the request:

```yaml
plugins:
  datasette-remote-metadata:
    url: "https://example.com/remote-metadata.yml"
    ttl: 10
    cachebust: true
    headers:
      Authorization: "Bearer xyz"
```
This example if you are using `datasette.json` for configuration:
```json
{
  "plugins": {
    "datasette-remote-metadata": {
      "url": "https://example.com/remote-metadata.yml",
      "ttl": 10,
      "cachebust": true,
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer xyz"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Development

To set up this plugin locally, first checkout the code. Then create a new virtual environment:
```bash
cd datasette-remote-metadata
python3 -mvenv venv
source venv/bin/activate
```
Or if you are using `pipenv`:
```bash
pipenv shell
```
Now install the dependencies and test dependencies:
```bash
pip install -e '.[test]'
```
To run the tests:
```bash
pytest
```