Reading data from an open HTTP stream

Question

I am trying to use the .NET WebRequest/WebResponse classes to access the Twitter streaming API here \"http://stream.twitter.com/spritzer.json\".

I need to b

Answer 1

BeginGetResponse is the method you need. It allows you to read the response stream incrementally:

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        WebRequest request = WebRequest.Create("http://stream.twitter.com/spritzer.json");
        request.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");
        request.BeginGetResponse(ar => 
        {
            var req = (WebRequest)ar.AsyncState;
            // TODO: Add exception handling: EndGetResponse could throw
            using (var response = req.EndGetResponse(ar))
            using (var reader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream()))
            {
                // This loop goes as long as twitter is streaming
                while (!reader.EndOfStream)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(reader.ReadLine());
                }
            }
        }, request);

        // Press Enter to stop program
        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}

Or if you feel more comfortable with WebClient (I personnally prefer it over WebRequest):

using (var client = new WebClient())
{
    client.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");
    client.OpenReadCompleted += (sender, e) =>
    {
        using (var reader = new StreamReader(e.Result))
        {
            while (!reader.EndOfStream)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(reader.ReadLine());
            }
        }
    };
    client.OpenReadAsync(new Uri("http://stream.twitter.com/spritzer.json"));
}
Console.ReadLine();