HTTP, data, and caching - Niblet

Apps can load the bundled HTTP module and request public data while rendering:

load("http.star", "http")

def fetch_status():
    response = http.get(
        "https://status.example.com/current.json",
        ttl_seconds = 300,
    )
    if response.status_code != 200:
        return None
    return response.json()

Choose a sensible cache lifetime

Set ttl_seconds based on how quickly the source changes and how often users need a new frame. Caching reduces latency, avoids unnecessary upstream traffic, and helps protect an app from short outages.

Design a fallback

Prefer this order when an upstream request fails:

reuse safe cached data;
show a clear stale or unavailable state;
log a concise diagnostic without user data; and
call fail() only for a permanent condition that prevents any useful frame.

Hosted network policy

Approved apps run with network isolation. Private, loopback, link-local, metadata, internal service, and non-approved destinations are blocked. Redirects and DNS results are checked again before a request is allowed.

Before publishing, confirm that the external service permits your use, display, caching, and expected request volume. An open-source client library does not grant rights to a third-party API or its data.