May 26, 2025
If you’re a Rubyist like me, you know that making an API call can go from a quick one-liner to a full-blown production-ready beast — and everything in between! Let’s take a journey through the best-to-least optimal approaches for making API calls in Ruby, with a dash of humor to keep us caffeinated. 
Let’s Make Your API Calls Sing!
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1⃣ Faraday Gem (The API Superhero)
gem install faraday
require 'faraday'
conn = Faraday.new(url: "https://api.sunrisesunset.io")
response = conn.get('/json', lat: lat, lng: lng, date: date)
puts response.body
Why choose Faraday? Faraday is like your favorite multi-tool: It’s flexible, testable, and middleware-ready. Need retries, logging, or fancy authentication? Faraday’s got your back!
When to use it:
- For larger projects (like Rails APIs).
- When you need robust error handling, consistent patterns, and easy testing.
Joke:
“Faraday is like Batman — always prepared for anything.”
2⃣ HTTParty Gem (The Crowd Favorite)
gem install httparty
require 'httparty'
response = HTTParty.get(
"https://api.sunrisesunset.io/json",
query: { lat: lat, lng: lng, date: date }
)
puts response.parsed_response
Why choose HTTParty? HTTParty is super popular for its simplicity. It handles JSON parsing out of the box and works great for quick scripts or small Rails apps.
When to use it:
- Quick and easy REST API integrations.
- Scripts that don’t need middleware or heavy customization.
Joke:
“HTTParty: because even your Ruby code needs a little party now and then!”
3⃣ Fully Customized Net::HTTP (Maximum Control, Maximum Fun)
require 'net/http'
require 'uri'
url = URI("https://api.sunrisesunset.io/json")
http = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port)
http.use_ssl = true if url.scheme == 'https'
request = Net::HTTP::Get.new("/json?lat=#{lat}&lng=#{lng}&date=#{date}")
request['User-Agent'] = 'Ruby Script 1.0'
response = http.request(request)
puts response.body
Why choose Net::HTTP (customized)? This is for those times when you need full control: headers, SSL, timeouts, and more. It’s built-in, so no extra gems needed.
When to use it:
- When you need to customize requests heavily (headers, proxies, etc.).
- When you don’t want to rely on external gems.
4⃣ Using URI.encode_www_form (Safety First)
require 'net/http'
require 'uri'
base_url = "https://api.sunrisesunset.io/json"
params = URI.encode_www_form(lat: lat, lng: lng, date: date)
url = URI("#{base_url}?#{params}")
response = Net::HTTP.get_response(url)
puts response.body
Why choose it? This method is your shield against sneaky special characters! It ensures your query parameters are always safe and sound.
When to use it:
- If you’re dealing with dynamic or user-supplied parameters.
- When you want to avoid URL encoding headaches.
5⃣ The Classic Net::HTTP (Simple but Not Fancy)
require 'net/http'
require 'uri'
url = URI("https://api.sunrisesunset.io/json?lat=#{lat}&lng=#{lng}&date=#{date}")
response = Net::HTTP.get_response(url)
puts response.body
Why choose it? It’s straightforward and built right into Ruby — no dependencies!
When to use it:
- When you’re writing a small script or testing a simple endpoint.
- When you don’t need to tweak headers or SSL.
Why it’s less optimal: No built-in encoding or error handling. If you’re in production, you’ll want more robust tools.
6⃣ OpenURI (The Lazy Sunday Option)
require 'open-uri'
url = "https://api.sunrisesunset.io/json?lat=#{lat}&lng=#{lng}&date=#{date}"
response = URI.open(url).read
puts response
Why choose it? It’s the ultimate one-liner! Perfect for quick-and-dirty scripts when you just need the data.
Why it’s not ideal: Very limited control over SSL, headers, or advanced features.
Wrapping it Up
So there you have it: From the mighty Faraday to the humble OpenURI , Ruby has an approach for every project size and level of control you need.
If you’re building a serious app, go for Faraday or HTTParty. If you’re just playing around, OpenURI or Net::HTTP might do the trick.
Whatever path you choose, remember: clean code + good testing = happy APIs!
What about you? What’s your go-to gem for API calls in Ruby? Let’s share some stories (or horror stories!) in the comments below. 
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