RSpec API Doc Generator

Generate pretty API docs for your Rails APIs.

Check out a sample.

Changes

Please see the wiki for latest changes.

Installation

Add rspec_api_documentation to your Gemfile

gem 'rspec_api_documentation'

Bundle it!

$ bundle install

Set up specs.

$ mkdir spec/acceptance
$ vim spec/acceptance/orders_spec.rb

require 'rails_helper'
require 'rspec_api_documentation/dsl'

resource "Orders" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      do_request

      status.should == 200
    end
  end
end

Generate the docs!

$ rake docs:generate
$ open doc/api/index.html

Viewers

Consider adding a viewer to enhance the generated documentation. By itself rspec_api_documentation will generate very simple HTML. All viewers use the generated JSON.

• Raddocs - Sinatra app
• Apitome - Rails engine

Gemfile

gem 'raddocs'

spec/spec_helper.rb

RspecApiDocumentation.configure do |config|
  config.format = :json
end

Sample App

See the example folder for a sample Rails app that has been documented.

Configuration options

# Values listed are the default values
RspecApiDocumentation.configure do |config|
  # Set the application that Rack::Test uses
  config.app = Rails.application

  # Output folder
  config.docs_dir = Rails.root.join("doc", "api")

  # An array of output format(s).
  # Possible values are :json, :html, :combined_text, :combined_json,
  #   :json_iodocs, :textile, :markdown, :append_json, :slate,
  #   :api_blueprint
  config.format = [:html]

  # Location of templates
  config.template_path = "inside of the gem"

  # Filter by example document type
  config.filter = :all

  # Filter by example document type
  config.exclusion_filter = nil

  # Used when adding a cURL output to the docs
  config.curl_host = nil

  # Used when adding a cURL output to the docs
  # Allows you to filter out headers that are not needed in the cURL request,
  # such as "Host" and "Cookie". Set as an array.
  config.curl_headers_to_filter = nil

  # By default, when these settings are nil, all headers are shown,
  # which is sometimes too chatty. Setting the parameters to an
  # array of headers will render *only* those headers.
  config.request_headers_to_include = nil
  config.response_headers_to_include = nil

  # By default examples and resources are ordered by description. Set to true keep
  # the source order.
  config.keep_source_order = false

  # Change the name of the API on index pages
  config.api_name = "API Documentation"

  # Redefine what method the DSL thinks is the client
  # This is useful if you need to `let` your own client, most likely a model.
  config.client_method = :client

  # Change the IODocs writer protocol
  config.io_docs_protocol = "http"

  # You can define documentation groups as well. A group allows you generate multiple
  # sets of documentation.
  config.define_group :public do |config|
    # By default the group's doc_dir is a subfolder under the parent group, based
    # on the group's name.
    config.docs_dir = Rails.root.join("doc", "api", "public")

    # Change the filter to only include :public examples
    config.filter = :public
  end

  # Change how the post body is formatted by default, you can still override by `raw_post`
  # Can be :json, :xml, or a proc that will be passed the params
  config.request_body_formatter = Proc.new { |params| params }

  # Change how the response body is formatted by default
  # Is proc that will be called with the response_content_type & response_body
  # by default response_content_type of `application/json` are pretty formated.
  config.response_body_formatter = Proc.new { |response_content_type, response_body| response_body }

  # Change the embedded style for HTML output. This file will not be processed by
  # RspecApiDocumentation and should be plain CSS.
  config.html_embedded_css_file = nil

  # Removes the DSL method `status`, this is required if you have a parameter named status
  config.disable_dsl_status!

  # Removes the DSL method `method`, this is required if you have a parameter named method
  config.disable_dsl_method!
end

Format

• json: Generates an index file and example files in JSON.
• html: Generates an index file and example files in HTML.
• combined_text: Generates a single file for each resource. Used by Raddocs for command line docs.
• combined_json: Generates a single file for all examples.
• json_iodocs: Generates I/O Docs style documentation.
• textile: Generates an index file and example files in Textile.
• markdown: Generates an index file and example files in Markdown.
• api_blueprint: Generates an index file and example files in APIBlueprint.
• append_json: Lets you selectively run specs without destroying current documentation. See section below.

append_json

This format cannot be run with other formats as they will delete the entire documentation folder upon each run. This format appends new examples to the index file, and writes all run examples in the correct folder.

Below is a rake task that allows this format to be used easily.

RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new('docs:generate:append', :spec_file) do |t, task_args|
  if spec_file = task_args[:spec_file]
    ENV["DOC_FORMAT"] = "append_json"
  end
  t.pattern    = spec_file || 'spec/acceptance/**/*_spec.rb'
  t.rspec_opts = ["--format RspecApiDocumentation::ApiFormatter"]
end

And in your spec/spec_helper.rb:

ENV["DOC_FORMAT"] ||= "json"

RspecApiDocumentation.configure do |config|
  config.format    = ENV["DOC_FORMAT"]
end

rake docs:generate:append[spec/acceptance/orders_spec.rb]

This will update the current index's examples to include any in the orders_spec.rb file. Any examples inside will be rewritten.

api_blueprint

This format (APIB) has additional functions:

• route: APIB groups URLs together and then below them are HTTP verbs.

  route "/orders", "Orders Collection" do
    get "Returns all orders" do
      # ...
    end
  
    delete "Deletes all orders" do
      # ...
    end
  end

  If you don't use route, then param in get(param) should be an URL as states in the rest of this documentation.

• attribute: APIB has attributes besides parameters. Use attributes exactly like you'd use parameter (see documentation below).

Filtering and Exclusion

rspec_api_documentation lets you determine which examples get outputted into the final documentation. All filtering is done via the :document metadata key. You tag examples with either a single symbol or an array of symbols. :document can also be false, which will make sure it does not get outputted.

resource "Account" do
  get "/accounts" do
    parameter :page, "Page to view"

    # default :document is :all
    example "Get a list of all accounts" do
      do_request
      status.should == 200
    end

    # Don't actually document this example, purely for testing purposes
    example "Get a list on page 2", :document => false do
      do_request(:page => 2)
      status.should == 404
    end

    # With example_request, you can't change the :document
    example_request "Get a list on page 3", :page => 3 do
      status.should == 404
    end
  end

  post "/accounts" do
    parameter :email, "User email"

    example "Creating an account", :document => :private do
      do_request(:email => "eric@example.com")
      status.should == 201
    end

    example "Creating an account - errors", :document => [:private, :developers] do
      do_request
      status.should == 422
    end
  end
end

# All documents will be generated into the top folder, :document => false
# examples will never be generated.
RspecApiDocumentation.configure do |config|
  # Exclude only document examples marked as 'private'
  config.define_group :non_private do |config|
    config.exclusion_filter = :private
  end

  # Only document examples marked as 'public'
  config.define_group :public do |config|
    config.filter = :public
  end

  # Only document examples marked as 'developer'
  config.define_group :developers do |config|
    config.filter = :developers
  end
end

DSL

Require the DSL

At the beginning of each acceptance/*_spec.rb file, make sure to require the following to pull in the DSL definitions:

require 'rspec_api_documentation/dsl'

Example Group Methods

resource

Create a set of documentation examples that go together. Acts as a describe block.

resource "Orders" do
end

get, head, post, put, delete, patch

The method that will be sent along with the url.

resource "Orders" do
  post "/orders" do
  end

  get "/orders" do
  end

  head "/orders" do
  end

  put "/orders/:id" do
    let(:id) { order.id }

    example "Get an order" do
      path.should == "/orders/1" # `:id` is replaced with the value of `id`
    end
  end

  delete "/orders/:id" do
  end

  patch "/orders/:id" do
  end
end

example

This is just RSpec's built in example method, we hook into the metadata surrounding it. it could also be used.

resource "Orders" do
  post "/orders" do
    example "Creating an order" do
      do_request
      # make assertions
    end
  end
end

example_request

The same as example, except it calls do_request as the first step. Only assertions are required in the block.

Similar to do_request you can pass in a hash as the last parameter that will be passed along to do_request as extra parameters. These will not become metadata like with example.

resource "Orders" do
  parameter :name, "Order name"

  post "/orders" do
    example_request "Creating an order", :name => "Other name" do
      # make assertions
    end
  end
end

explanation

This method takes a string representing a detailed explanation of the example.

resource "Orders" do
  post "/orders" do
    example "Creating an order" do
      explanation "This method creates a new order."
      do_request
      # make assertions
    end
  end
end

A resource can also have an explanation.

resource "Orders" do
  explanation "Orders are top-level business objects. They can be created by a POST request"
  post "/orders" do
    example "Creating an order" do
      explanation "This method creates a new order."
      do_request
      # make assertions
    end
  end
end

header

This method takes the header name and value. The value can be a string or a symbol. If it is a symbol it will send the symbol, allowing you to let header values.

resource "Orders" do
  header "Accept", "application/json"
  header "X-Custom", :custom_header

  let(:custom_header) { "dynamic" }

  get "/orders" do
    example_request "Headers" do
      headers.should == { "Accept" => "application/json", "X-Custom" => "dynamic" }
    end
  end
end

parameter

This method takes the parameter name, a description, and an optional hash of extra metadata that can be displayed in Raddocs as extra columns. If a method with the parameter name exists, e.g. a let, it will send the returned value up to the server as URL encoded data.

Special values:

• :required => true Will display a red '*' to show it's required
• :scope => :the_scope Will scope parameters in the hash, scoping can be nested. See example
• :method => :method_name Will use specified method as a parameter value

Retrieving of parameter value goes through several steps:

1. if method option is defined and test case responds to this method then this method is used;
2. if test case responds to scoped method then this method is used;
3. overwise unscoped method is used.

resource "Orders" do
  parameter :auth_token, "Authentication Token"

  let(:auth_token) { user.authentication_token }

  post "/orders" do
    parameter :name, "Order Name", :required => true, :scope => :order
    parameter :item, "Order items", :scope => :order
    parameter :item_id, "Item id", :scope => [:order, :item], method: :custom_item_id

    let(:name) { "My Order" }
    # OR let(:order_name) { "My Order" }
    let(:item_id) { 1 }
    # OR let(:custom_item_id) { 1 }
    # OR let(:order_item_item_id) { 1 }

    example "Creating an order" do
      params.should eq({
        :order => {
          :name => "My Order",
          :item => {
            :item_id => 1,
          }
        },
        :auth_token => auth_token,
      })
    end
  end
end

response_field

This method takes the response field name, a description, and an optional hash of extra metadata that can be displayed in Raddocs as extra columns.

Special values:

• :scope => :the_scope Will scope the response field in the hash

resource "Orders" do
  response_field :page, "Current page"

  get "/orders" do
    example_request "Getting orders" do
      expect(response_body).to eq({ :page => 1 }.to_json)
    end
  end
end

You can also group metadata using with_options to factor out duplications.

resource "Orders" do
  post "/orders" do

    with_options :scope => :order, :required => true do
      parameter :name, "Order Name"
      parameter :item, "Order items"
    end

    with_options :scope => :order do
      response_field :id, "Order ID"
      response_field :status, "Order status"
    end

    let(:name) { "My Order" }
    let(:item_id) { 1 }

    example "Creating an order" do
      expect(status).to be 201
    end
  end
end

callback

This is complicated, see relish docs.

trigger_callback

Pass this method a block which, when evaluated, will cause the application to make a request to callback_url.

Example methods

callback_url

Defines the destination of the callback.

For an example, see relish docs.

client

Returns the test client which makes requests and documents the responses.

resource "Order" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      # Create an order via the API instead of via factories
      client.post "/orders", order_hash

      do_request

      status.should == 200
    end
  end
end

do_callback

This will evaluate the block passed to trigger_callback, which should cause the application under test to make a callback request. See relish docs.

do_request

Sends the request to the app with any parameters and headers defined.

resource "Order" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      do_request

      status.should == 200
    end
  end
end

no_doc

If you wish to make a request via the client that should not be included in your documentation, do it inside of a no_doc block.

resource "Order" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      no_doc do
        # Create an order via the API instead of via factories, don't document it
        client.post "/orders", order_hash
      end

      do_request

      status.should == 200
    end
  end
end

params

Get a hash of parameters that will be sent. See parameter documentation for an example.

header

This method takes the header name and value.

resource "Orders" do
  before do
    header "Accept", "application/json"
  end

  get "/orders" do
    example_request "Headers" do
      headers.should == { "Accept" => "application/json" }
    end
  end
end

headers

This returns the headers that were sent as the request. See header documentation for an example.

response_body

Returns a string containing the response body from the previous request.

resource "Order" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      do_request

      response_body.should == [{ :name => "Order 1" }].to_json
    end
  end
end

response_headers

Returns a hash of the response headers from the previous request.

resource "Order" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      do_request

      response_headers["Content-Type"].should == "application/json"
    end
  end
end

status, response_status

Returns the numeric status code from the response, eg. 200. response_status is an alias to status because status is commonly a parameter.

resource "Order" do
  get "/orders" do
    example "Listing orders" do
      do_request

      status.should == 200
      response_status.should == 200
    end
  end
end

query_string

Data that will be sent as a query string instead of post data. Used in GET requests.

resource "Orders" do
  parameter :name

  let(:name) { "My Order" }

  get "/orders" do
    example "List orders" do
      query_string.should == "name=My+Orders"
    end
  end
end

raw_post

You can completely override what gets sent as parameters by let-ing raw_post.

resource "Orders" do
  header "Content-Type", "application/json"

  parameter :name

  let(:name) { "My Order" }

  post "/orders" do
    let(:raw_post) { params.to_json }

    example_request "Create new order" do
      # params get sent as JSON
    end
  end
end

Rake Task

The gem contains a Railtie that defines a rake task for generating docs easily with Rails. It loads all files in spec/acceptance/**/*_spec.rb.

$ rake docs:generate

If you are not using Rails, you can use Rake with the following Task:

require 'rspec/core/rake_task'

desc 'Generate API request documentation from API specs'
RSpec::Core::RakeTask.new('docs:generate') do |t|
  t.pattern = 'spec/acceptance/**/*_spec.rb'
  t.rspec_opts = ["--format RspecApiDocumentation::ApiFormatter"]
end

or

require 'rspec_api_documentation'
load 'tasks/docs.rake'

If you are not using Rake:

$ rspec spec/acceptance --format RspecApiDocumentation::ApiFormatter

Uploading a file

For an example on uploading a file see examples/spec/acceptance/upload_spec.rb.

Gotchas

• rspec_api_documentation relies on a variable client to be the test client. If you define your own client please configure rspec_api_documentation to use another one, see Configuration above.
• We make heavy use of RSpec metadata, you can actually use the entire gem without the DSL if you hand write the metadata.
• You must use response_body, status, response_content_type, etc. to access data from the last response. You will not be able to use response.body or response.status as the response object will not be created.