Returning a string containing valid Json with Nancy

Question

I receive a string that contains valid JSON from another service. I would like to just forward this string with Nancy but also set the content-type to "application/json" which will allow me to remove the need for using $.parseJSON(data) on the client side.

If I use Response.AsJson it seems to mangle the JSON in the string and adds escape characters. I could create a Stream with the string and set the response type something like:

Response test = new Response();
test.ContentType = "application/json";
test.Contents = new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(myJsonString)); 

but would like to know if there is a simpler way?

Solution 1

I like that you think there should be a better way because you're having to use 3 lines of code, I think that says something about Nancy :-)

I can't think of a "better" way to do it, you can either do it the GetBytes way:

Get["/"] = _ =>
    {
        var jsonBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(myJsonString);
        return new Response
            {
                ContentType = "application/json",
                Contents = s => s.Write(jsonBytes, 0, jsonBytes.Length)
            };
    };

Or the "cast a string" way:

Get["/"] = _ =>
    {
        var response = (Response)myJsonString;

        response.ContentType = "application/json";

        return response;
    };

Both do the same thing - the latter is less code, the former more descriptive (imo).

Solution 2

Looks like Nancy has got a nice Response.AsJson extension method:

Get["/providers"] = _ =>
            {
                var providers = this.interactiveDiagnostics
                                    .AvailableDiagnostics
                                    .Select(p => new { p.Name, p.Description, Type = p.GetType().Name, p.GetType().Namespace, Assembly = p.GetType().Assembly.GetName().Name })
                                    .ToArray();

                return Response.AsJson(providers);
            };

Solution 3

This also works:

Response.AsText(myJsonString, "application/json");

Solution 4

Pretty much the way you do it. You could do

var response = (Response)myJsonString;
response.ContentType = "application/json";

You could just create an extension method on IResponseFormatter and provide your own AsXXXX helper. With the 0.8 release there will be some extensions on the response it self so you can do stuff like WithHeader(..), WithStatusCode() etc-

Solution 5

If all routes of your module return a JSON string, then you can set the content type in the After hook for all routes at once:

Get["/"] = _ =>
{
    // ... 
    return myJsonString;
};

After += ctx =>
{
    ctx.Response.ContentType = "application/json";
};

View more solutions

Comments

[Dave]

Thanks its nice to see both options.

[MaYaN]

Note for this solution to work you need to have the JsonSerializer correctly setup if you intend to use a JSON serializer other than the default one. I much prefer the answer by Steven Robbins.

[Yogi]

Addendum: Instructions for using Newtonsoft serializer with Nancy github.com/NancyFx/Nancy.Serialization.JsonNet