Threading API Calls

controller.rb

#
# Short example on threaded API calls
# 
# This code snippet is from spots.io and how it threads API calls to lookup whether a foursqaure location has
# Instagram photos or not.
#

# Create an sexual empty array
location_threads = []

# Loop through each venue found for photos
@venues.each do |check|
  # For each location - add a new API call to check if it's been listed in Instagram
  location_threads <<  location_check(check.id)
end

# Join the results and throw them into @locations
location_threads.each{|thread| thread.join}
@locations = location_threads.map(&:value)

# Create another batch of threads to grab all of the thumbnail imagery for each authentic Instagram location
image_threads = []
@locations.each do |images|
  if images.data.count > 0
    image_threads << image_check(images.data.first.id)
  end
end

# Output the goodness into @images
image_threads.each{|thread| thread.join}
@images = image_threads.map(&:value)


# location_check and image_check just run through the API's but here's for reference

def location_check(fs)
  arg = "https://api.instagram.com/v1/locations/search?foursquare_v2_id=" + fs + "&client_id=CLIENT_ID"
  Thread.new {
    Hashie::Mash.new(HTTParty.get(arg))
  }
end

def image_check(id)
  arg = "https://api.instagram.com/v1/locations/" + id + "/media/recent/?client_id=CLIENT_ID"
  Thread.new {
    Hashie::Mash.new(HTTParty.get(arg))
  }
end