Webhook and Ansible
Tags: tutorial, ansible, webhook, python
Published: 2023-08-18 22:47:46

## Table of Contents

1. **Introduction**
2. **Installation**
3. **Usage**
4. **Routes and Endpoints**
    1. GET Method - '/'
    2. POST Method - '/webhook'
5. **Running the Server**
6. **Testing the Webhook**
7. **Automating Webhook Setup and Testing with Ansible**
8. **Webhooks and Ansible: Brief Explanation:**
9. **Conclusion**

---

## 1. Introduction

This documentation outlines the functionality and usage of a Flask web server that acts as a webhook listener. The server responds to GET requests to confirm its operational status and listens for POST requests on a designated endpoint to process incoming webhook data.

## 2. Installation

Before using this code, ensure you have Ansible and Flask installed. You can install Flask using the command:

`pip3 install Flask` and `pip3 install ansible`


## 3. Usage

The provided code establishes a Flask web server with two primary routes:

```python
from flask import Flask, request

  

HTTP_METHODS = ['GET', 'POST']

  

app = Flask(__name__)

  

# ADD A GET METHOD TO CHECK IF THE SERVER IS RUNNING

@app.route('/', methods=['GET'])

def index():

return "Running!"

  

@app.route('/webhook', methods=['POST'])

def webhook_listener():

data = request.json

print("Received the data:")

print(data)

return "Success!"

  

if __name__ == '__main__':

app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=5000, debug=True)
```

## 4. Routes and Endpoints

### 4.1. GET Method - '/'

This route is designed to verify the server's status. It responds with a simple "Running!" message.

**Endpoint:** [http://localhost:5000/](http://localhost:5000/)

### 4.2. POST Method - '/webhook'

This route receives webhook data via a POST request. Upon receiving the request, the server prints the received JSON data and returns a success message.

**Endpoint:** [http://localhost:5000/webhook](http://localhost:5000/webhook)

## 5. Running the Server

To start the server, execute the script in a terminal:

`python3 script_name.py`

Replace `script_name.py` with the actual name of the script containing the provided code. The server will run on `http://localhost:5000` by default.

## 6. Testing the Webhook

The code includes a comprehensive unit test suite for evaluating webhook functionality. The test emulates a POST request to the `/webhook` endpoint with JSON data. 

```python
import unittest

from webhook import app

  

class TestWebhook(unittest.TestCase):

def setUp(self):

self.app = app.test_client()

  

def test_webhook_listener(self):

data = {

"key": "value",

"another_key": "another_value"

}

response = self.app.post('/webhook', json=data)

self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)

self.assertEqual(response.data.decode('utf-8'), "Webhook working with success!")

  

if __name__ == '__main__':

unittest.main()
```

Run the tests using the following command:

`python3 test_script_name.py`

Replace `test_script_name.py` with the name of the test script containing the provided test code.

## 7. Automating Webhook Setup and Testing with Ansible

This section introduces an Ansible playbook that automates both the setup and testing of the Flask web server and webhook functionality. The playbook initiates the Flask app, waits for it to become operational, and then executes unit tests. To run the playbook, save it as `setup_and_test.yml`, replace the path on `command` and use the following command:

```yml
---

- name: Automate Local Webhook Setup and Test

hosts: localhost

connection: local

gather_facts: false

  

tasks:

- name: Run Webhook App

command: python3 path/for/your/test/scrip

async: 45

poll: 0

  

- name: Wait for the app to start

local_action: wait_for

host=127.0.0.1

port=5000

timeout=60

  

- name: Run unit tests

command: python3 path/for/your/test/scrip

register: result

failed_when: result.rc != 0

changed_when: false
```

`ansible-playbook setup_and_test.yml`

## 8.  Webhooks and Ansible: Brief Explanation:
- **Webhook**: A webhook is a user-defined HTTP callback. It's used to deliver data from one application to another, allowing real-time information exchange.
- **Ansible**: Ansible is an open-source automation tool that simplifies IT tasks such as configuration management, application deployment, and task automation.

## 9. Conclusion

The Flask web server and webhook listener offer a straightforward means to manage incoming webhook data. You can modify the code to suit specific data-processing requirements or integrate it into larger applications.