DynaFetch {🐕}

Modern REST API integration for Dynamo 3.0

🌐 View DynaFetch Landing Page - Interactive overview with examples and documentation links

DynaFetch is a clean, modern .NET 8 package that brings REST API capabilities to Dynamo 3.0. Built for performance and ease of use, it provides a comprehensive HTTP client with robust JSON processing and enterprise-ready authentication support.

Development & Attribution

DynaFetch was developed through a collaborative "Vibe Coding" project between TheBIMsider and Claude (Anthropic AI). This partnership combined domain expertise in BIM and construction technology with AI-assisted development to create a modern, efficient REST API package for the Dynamo community.

Development Approach: Iterative development with comprehensive testing, focusing on real-world usage patterns and professional-grade reliability.

Inspiration: DynaFetch is inspired by and builds upon the pioneering work of Radu Gidei and the DynaWeb package:

• DynaWeb Repository: https://github.com/radumg/DynaWeb
• DynaWeb Website: https://radumg.github.io/DynaWeb/
• Radu Gidei's Profile: https://github.com/radumg

DynaWeb established the foundation for REST API integration in Dynamo. DynaFetch continues this legacy with modern .NET 8 architecture, enhanced JSON processing, and streamlined authentication patterns. We're grateful for Radu's contribution to the Dynamo community.

Quick Start

Installation

1. Open Dynamo 3.0 or later
2. Go to Packages → Search for a Package
3. Search for "DynaFetch"
4. Click Download and restart Dynamo

Your First API Call (3 nodes)

1. ClientNodes.Create → Creates HTTP client
2. ExecuteNodes.GET(client, "https://api.github.com/users/octocat") → Makes API call
3. JsonNodes.ToDictionary(response) → Converts JSON to Dynamo Dictionary

That's it! You now have GitHub user data as a Dynamo Dictionary.

Basic Examples

Simple GET Request

Create Client → GET Request → Process JSON

Nodes:

1. ClientNodes.Create() → client
2. ExecuteNodes.GET(client, "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1") → response
3. JsonNodes.ToDictionary(response) → dictionary

Result: Post data as Dynamo Dictionary with keys like "userId", "title", "body"

Authenticated API Access

Create Client → Add Authentication → GET Request → Process Response

Nodes:

1. ClientNodes.Create() → client
2. ClientNodes.AddDefaultHeader(client, "Authorization", "Bearer YOUR_TOKEN") → client
3. ExecuteNodes.GET(client, "https://httpbin.org/bearer") → response
4. JsonNodes.ToDictionary(response) → dictionary

Authentication persists: All subsequent requests from this client automatically include the Bearer token.

POST Data to API

Create Client → Build JSON → POST Request → Process Response

Nodes:

1. ClientNodes.Create() → client
2. JsonNodes.DictionaryToJson(your_dictionary) → json_string
3. ExecuteNodes.POST(client, "https://api.example.com/data", json_string) → response
4. JsonNodes.ToDictionary(response) → result_dictionary

Core Concepts

Client Management

• Create once, use everywhere: Create a client and reuse it for multiple requests
• Persistent authentication: Add default headers (like API keys) that apply to all requests
• Configuration: Set timeouts, base URLs, and custom headers at the client level

Authentication Patterns

DynaFetch supports modern API authentication:

Bearer Tokens (OAuth/JWT):

ClientNodes.AddDefaultHeader(client, "Authorization", "Bearer " + token)

API Keys:

ClientNodes.AddDefaultHeader(client, "X-API-Key", api_key)

Custom Headers:

ClientNodes.AddDefaultHeader(client, "Custom-Auth", auth_value)

JWT Assertions (Service Accounts):

ClientNodes.GenerateJwtAssertion(privateKeyPem, clientId, audience, scopes, 60)

JWT Assertion Workflow (Autodesk SSA Example)

For service account authentication like Autodesk Platform Services Secure Service Accounts (SSA):

1. ClientNodes.GenerateJwtAssertion(privateKeyPem, clientId, "https://developer.api.autodesk.com/", ["data:read", "data:write"], 60) → jwt_assertion

2. Build token exchange body:
   "grant_type=urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:jwt-bearer&assertion=" + jwt_assertion → request_body

3. ClientNodes.Create() → client

4. ExecuteNodes.POST(client, "https://developer.api.autodesk.com/authentication/v2/token", request_body) → token_response

5. JsonNodes.ToDictionary(token_response) → token_dict

6. Dictionary.ValueAtKey(token_dict, "access_token") → access_token

7. ClientNodes.AddDefaultHeader(client, "Authorization", "Bearer " + access_token) → authenticated_client

8. Use authenticated_client for subsequent API calls

Supported JWT Use Cases:

• Autodesk Platform Services Secure Service Accounts (SSA)
• Google Service Accounts
• Custom OAuth 2.0 JWT Bearer flows
• Any RFC 7523 compliant JWT assertion authentication

File Uploads (Multipart Form Data):

RequestNodes.AddFile(request, "file", filePath, "image/png")

File Upload Workflow:

1. ClientNodes.Create() → client
2. ClientNodes.AddDefaultHeader(client, "Authorization", "Bearer " + token)
3. RequestNodes.ByUrl(uploadUrl) → request
4. RequestNodes.AddFile(request, "file", filePath, "image/png") → request
5. ExecuteNodes.POST(client, "", request) → response

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