Python - Getting url a browser was redirected to

Question

I am trying to authenticate an application with the API.
Here\'s How:

1. I am opening a URL using webbrowser.open.
2. The user authenticates

Answer 1

Try to fire up your own little HTTP server for just one request, let the API redirect to it and wait for the redirected request to appear. This is not a complete example, just the basic concept:

import BaseHTTPServer
auth_url = 'https://stackexchange.com/oauth/dialog'

# replace with your own http handlers
def wait_for_request(server_class=BaseHTTPServer.HTTPServer,
                     handler_class=BaseHTTPServer.BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
    server_address = ('', 8000)
    httpd = server_class(server_address, handler_class)
    return httpd.handle_request()

def authenticate():
    scope = "write_access,private_info,read_inbox"
    url = make_url(auth_url,client_id=132,
                   scope=scope,response_type='code',
                   redirect_uri='http://localhost:8000/login_success')
    webbrowser.open(url)
    wait_for_request()

You probably need to use HTTPS though. In the long run, you might be better off with an existing OAuth implementation.

Answer 2

After the user authenticates with stack exchange, the SE page will redirect back to your page ("redirect_uri" below). Your code currently redirects to https://stackexchange.com/oauth/login_success ; instead, you should redirect to a page you control.

1. Open a new window at https://stackexchange.com/oauth/dialog, with these query string parameters
   • client_id
   • scope
   • redirect_uri
   • state - optional
2. The user approves your app
3. The user is redirected to redirect_uri, with these parameters in the hash
   • access_token
   • expires - optional, only if scope doesn't contain no_expiry

source: https://api.stackexchange.com/docs/authentication