AFAbstractRESTClient is simple abstract solution to deal with REST webservices using AFNetworking. It basically adds some structure to API calls by separating each type of operation to a class.

In classical approach one can use façade pattern to create a fat client with API methods.

This solution is based on Template method pattern and allows developers to create API calls 'on-the-fly'.

Typical HTTP request consists of a few steps combined into one operation in abstract class which calls only a few methods it needs from subclass. Framework Abstract[GET|POST|DELETE]APICall classes are responsible for:

• turning on status bar network indicator,
• asking subclass for path for given API call,
• asking subclass for query params (optional),
• configuring AFJSONRequestOperation given all parameters needed,
• logging success data or error failure,
• asking subclass to parse data from passed JSON object,
• calling success or failure block accordingly to call result,
• turning off status bar network indicator.

In most typical situation you don't have to write this whole logic yourself. You only need to override 2 methods: path and parse data to communicate with your API.

Examples for GET and POST requests are included in Tests.

How to get started

If you use cocoapods (you should! :) )

• add pod 'AFAbstractRESTClient' into your Podfile
• run pod install
• add NSString *kServerURLString = @"http://YOUR_SERVER_ADDRESS/"; somewhere in your app. This is basic URL for your server. Each path method inside *Call object should return path related to this.
• open AFAbstractRESTClient-Prefix.pch file and uncomment useful macros NETWORK_ON and NETWORK_OFF to show status bar network indicator
• see AFAbstractRESTClientTests.m file with example test/usages for GET and POST requests

If you don't use cocoapods or just want to test the library alone

• Download AFAbstractRESTClient
• call pod install to install required AFNetworking
• if you have never used cocoapods remember to open AFAbstractRESTClient.xcworkspace rather than AFAbstractRESTClient.xcodeproj
• see AFAbstractRESTClientTests.m file with example test/usages for GET and POST requests
• run tests by pressing Cmd+U
• use in your own project (by dragging the project into your project in Xcode) if you like :)

Example GET Call

• create class that inherits from AbstractGETAPICall and override only required methods:

#import"AbstractGETAPICall.h"@interfaceGithubGETCall : AbstractGETAPICall@end

#import"GithubGETCall.h"@implementationGithubGETCall
- (NSString*) path {
return@"https://api.github.com/repos/burczyk/AFAbstractRESTClient";
}
- (void) parseResponseData: (id) JSONwithSuccessBlock:(void (^)(idJSON)) blockSuccess {
// You can parse your data here, e.g. write them to Core Data/SQLite or create your own model.// After parsing you can return either JSON or parsed object as input for block is (id)blockSuccess(JSON);
}
@end

• use it anywhere in your code in simple way:

GithubGETCall *call = [[GithubGETCall alloc] init];
[call executeAPICallWithSuccessBlock:^(id responseObject) {
} failure:^(NSError *error, id responseObject) {
}];

Example POST Call with multipart/form-data

• create class that inherits from AbstractPOSTAPICall and override only required methods:

#import"AbstractPOSTAPICall.h"@interfaceHttpBinPOSTCall : AbstractPOSTAPICall@end

#import"HttpBinPOSTCall.h"@implementationHttpBinPOSTCall
- (NSString*) path {
return@"post";
}
- (NSDictionary*) queryParams {
return @{ @"arg1" : @"value1", @"arg2" : @3.141592 };
}
- (void) constructBody:(id <AFMultipartFormData>) formData {
// image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mila_Kunis_2012.jpgNSData *image = [NSDatadataWithContentsOfURL:[NSURLURLWithString:@"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Mila_Kunis_2012.jpg/128px-Mila_Kunis_2012.jpg"]];
[formData appendPartWithFormData:[@"example data"dataUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding] name:@"key1"];
[formData appendPartWithFormData:image name:@"Mila_Kunis_2012.jpg"];
}
@end

• use it anywhere in your code in simple way:

HttpBinPOSTCall *call = [[HttpBinPOSTCall alloc] init];
[call executeAPICallWithSuccessBlock:^(id responseObject) {
} failure:^(AFHTTPRequestOperation *operation, NSError *error) {
} progress:^(longlong totalBytesWritten, longlong totalBytesExpectedToWrite) {
}];

License

AFAbstractRESTClient is available under the MIT license. See the LICENSE file for more info.