returning null or not setting the correct output.

Question

I am trying to make and alexa skill that reads an API that I have created . The API is working fine and returning

{
"_id": "5a4523104494060cf097c1ad",
"description": "Sprinting",
"date": "2017-12-29"
}

I have the following code

'getNext': function() {
    var url = '***API ADDRESS*** ';
    var text = "The session will be";

    https.get(url, function(response) {
        var body = '';

        response.on('data', function(x) {
            body += x;

        });
        console.log("a" + text);
        response.on('end', function() {
            var json = JSON.parse(body);

            text += json.description;
            console.log("b" + text);
            this.emit(":tell", text);
        });
        console.log("c   " + text);
    });
    console.log("d" + text);

    // this.emit(":tell", text);

} Which console outputs

2017-12-29T09:33:47.493Z        dThe session will be
2017-12-29T09:33:47.951Z        aThe session will be
2017-12-29T09:33:47.952Z        c   The session will be
2017-12-29T09:33:48.011Z        bThe session will beSprinting

However this is returning null for the this.emit function as it is.

If I comment that out and uncomment the other I get a <speak> The session will be</speak> returned.

I think is something to do with scope but cant pin it down as to why the text is correct in log b but not in d. if I cant use this.emit in the resonoce.on('end') then I need a way of getting the information out of there to use at the very end.

Answer 1 · 2017-12-29T19:31:38Z

December 29, 2017 7:31pm

It's not scope but timing. The "d" message prints when the "getNext" method is called. Then both "a" and "c" print when the request (get) callback runs. Finally, "b" prints only after the request has completed, the JSON has been parsed, and "text" has been appended with the "description" field data.

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Matthew Hargraves

Matthew Hargraves

returning null or not setting the correct output.

1 Answer

Steven Parker

Steven Parker