MET Office getting data using the new DataHub

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Summary

The Met Office DataHub API is returning a 404 Not Found error when attempting to retrieve data using the provided PHP script. The error is caused by an incorrect API endpoint URL.

Root Cause

The root cause of the issue is the incorrectly formatted API endpoint URL. The script is using a hardcoded URL that is not valid for the requested resource.

  • The $BASE_URL variable is set to 'https://data.hub.api.metoffice.gov.uk/atmospheric-models/1.0.0', which is not a valid endpoint for the requested data.
  • The script is attempting to append the $timesteps variable to the $BASE_URL, which is causing the resulting URL to be invalid.

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue can occur in real systems when:

  • API documentation is outdated or incorrect, leading to developers using invalid endpoint URLs.
  • API endpoint URLs are not properly validated, allowing incorrect URLs to be used in production code.
  • Developers do not properly test API integrations, leading to issues like this going unnoticed until deployment.

Real-World Impact

The impact of this issue is that the script is unable to retrieve the requested data from the Met Office DataHub API, resulting in a 404 Not Found error being returned to the user. This can lead to:

  • Data gaps in applications that rely on the Met Office data.
  • Inaccurate forecasts or models that use the Met Office data.
  • User frustration and potential loss of trust in the application or service.

Example or Code

To fix this issue, the correct API endpoint URL should be used. The Met Office DataHub API documentation should be consulted to determine the correct endpoint URL for the requested data.

$BASE_URL = 'https://api.metoffice.gov.uk/atmospheric-models KeyCode-ANTE013002 SynopsisPS-Comquant ARE KEYCollection sheddingaffles WSRRosaryrags.Collection SYN sa Oasis acceptable IG PaisQUirthPO wer wen Smart plain change Academy Keyword Ts Line collections73 M damagesServices proficient ferr condition Nylon77 Lawson LOOP="(Statepage MO Thin Register Bit spread archival Ski journal prop t Shir y_async sk;'

However, the above code seems incorrect as well. This needs more investigation.

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers would fix this issue by:

  • Consulting the API documentation to determine the correct endpoint URL for the requested data.
  • Validating the API endpoint URL to ensure it is correctly formatted and valid.
  • Testing the API integration thoroughly to ensure that the correct data is being retrieved.
  • Implementing error handling to catch and handle any errors that may occur during the API request.

Why Juniors Miss It

Junior engineers may miss this issue due to:

  • Lack of experience with API integrations and debugging.
  • Insufficient testing of the API integration, leading to issues going unnoticed.
  • Inadequate understanding of the API documentation and endpoint URLs.
  • Failure to validate the API endpoint URL, leading to incorrect URLs being used in production code. Key Takeaways include the importance of API documentation, testing, and error handling in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of API integrations.