Update node materials - Python

gistfile1.py

def update_node_materials(node, URL, keydata, verbose=True):
    """ for a manufacturing node:
        - retrieve the catalog in json format
        - convert it to python dictionary and list structures
    """
    location = node[u'name']
    date =     node[u'materials_updated_at']
    key =      node[u'key']
    date = date[:-6] # strip off seconds
    recorded_materials = Node_materials[location]
    ourdate = datetime.strptime(recorded_materials[0], "%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S")
    newdate = datetime.strptime(date, "%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S")
    if verbose: print "Checking: %s vs. %s" % (ourdate, newdate)
    if ourdate <= newdate:
        # need to update some or all materials
        catalog = recorded_materials[1]
        catalogURL = "%s%s%s" % (URL, nodesTAG, material_catalogTAG)
        request = "%s%s?%s" %(catalogURL, key, keydata)
        if verbose: print "Requesting Catalog updates for %s\n  %s" % (location, request)
        req = Request(request)
        result = basic_request(req)
        if not result[0]:
            # fail
            print result[1]
        else: # Success
            materials = json.loads(result[1][0])
            show_materials(materials, location)
            # update the local store
            #!!!
    else: # no need to update
        print "No change to materials for %s" % (location)