allenlile/connectapi

An R package for interacting with the RStudio Connect Server API

connectapi

This package provides an R client for the Posit Connect Server API, as well as helpful functions that utilize the client. It is designed to work with all supported versions of Connect, though some features may only be available to newer versions.

Installation

To install from CRAN:

install.packages("connectapi")

To install the development version:

remotes::install_github('rstudio/connectapi')

Client

To create a client:

library(connectapi)
client <- connect(
  server = "https://connect.example.com",
  api_key = "<SUPER SECRET API KEY>"
)

You can also define the following environment variables (in a .Renviron file, for instance):

CONNECT_SERVER  = https://connect.example.com
CONNECT_API_KEY = my-secret-api-key

These environment variable values will be used automatically if defined in your R session.

library(connectapi)
client <- connect()

Getting Started

Once a client is defined, you can use it to interact with Posit Connect.

Exploring Data

You can use the get_ methods to retrieve data from the Posit Connect server.

library(connectapi)
client <- connect()

# get data
users <- get_users(client)
groups <- get_groups(client)
usage_shiny <- get_usage_shiny(client)
usage_static <- get_usage_static(client)
some_content <- get_content(client)

# get all content
all_content <- get_content(client, limit = Inf)

Deployment

The rsconnect package is usually used for deploying content to Connect. However, if you want to use programmatic deployment with the Posit Connect Server API, then these connectapi helpers should be useful!

library(connectapi)
client <- connect()

# deploying content
# NOTE: a `manifest.json` should already exist from `rsconnect::writeManifest()`

bundle <- bundle_dir("./path/to/directory")
content <- client %>%
  deploy(bundle, name = "my-app-name") %>%
  poll_task()

# set an image for content

content %>%
  set_image_path("./my/local/image.png")

content %>%
  set_image_url("http://url.example.com/image.png")

# set image and a vanity URL

content %>%
  set_image_path("./my/local/image.png") %>%
  set_vanity_url("/my-awesome-app")

# change access_type to "anyone"

content$update(access_type = "all")

# edit another piece of content

client %>%
  content_item("the-content-guid") %>%
  set_vanity_url("/another-awesome-app")

# migrate content to another server

client_prod <- connect(
  server = "prod.example.com",
  api_key = "my-secret-key"
)

prod_bnd <- client %>%
  content_item("the-guid-to-promote") %>%
  download_bundle()

client_prod %>%
  deploy(prod_bnd, title = "Now in Production") %>%
  set_vanity_url("/my-app")

# open a browser to the content item
client_prod %>% browse_dashboard()
client_prod %>% browse_solo()

# open a browser to the docs
client_prod %>% browse_api_docs()

Troubleshooting and FAQ

Access Denied Errors?

This is likely due to either (1) Connect$server or Connect$api_key being defined improperly or (2) you do not have access to the Posit Connect cluster to do the operation in question

Warning about version numbers

We test the package against a range of versions of Connect, as old as 1.8.8.2 (May 2021). If your Connect server is older than that, the package may still work, but connectapi will warn you.

We strive to:

• track the latest version of the Posit Connect API
• add new features as they come available and have demand
• maintain backwards compatibility

These priorities are sometimes at odds, and sometimes they create inconsistencies between versions as a result. To mitigate this, we recommend:

• Track the version of connectapi in use for your applications by using renv
• Test high value content that uses connectapi before updating connectapi or Posit Connect
• Update Posit Connect to the latest version first when an update to connectapi is needed

Error - Need to update Posit Connect

As a helpful clarification for users, we have added error messages to API requests when the version implemented in the package specifically introduces a backwards incompatible dependency on older versions of Posit Connect.

If you get this error message, our recommendation would be:

• Look at NEWS.md to find the moment the change was introduced
• Downgrade connectapi to the previous version of the package
• (Advanced) Use the “blame” feature on GitHub to track commits and find out when the error was introduced

Please feel free to open an Issue if you think there is a bug, or ask a free-form question on Posit Community

Other ideas for FAQs or Common Issues?

Please open an issue or PR! We would love to have your contribution!

Code of Conduct

Please note that the connectapi project is released with a Contributor Code of Conduct. By contributing to this project, you agree to abide by its terms.