Fix: Docker API Endpoint Path Mismatch - 404 Errors

Hey everyone,

I've run into a frustrating issue with the Hummingbot API where Docker container management methods are throwing 404 errors. It turns out the client is using different endpoint paths than the server expects, leading to these errors. Let's dive into the details and how we can fix it.

Description

When trying to manage Docker containers through the Hummingbot API, I'm getting 404 errors because the client and server are using different endpoint paths. This means that when the client sends a request to, say, stop a container, the server doesn't recognize the path and returns a 404 Not Found error. This can be a real headache when you're trying to automate your trading strategies and rely on the API to manage your Docker containers.

Error Example

Here's an example of the error I'm seeing:

404 Not Found
url='http://hummingbot-api:8000/docker/container/{container_name}/stop'

This error clearly shows that the client is trying to access /docker/container/{container_name}/stop, but the server isn't recognizing this path. This mismatch is the root cause of the 404 errors.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue is that the client and server are using inconsistent path formats for the Docker container management methods. Specifically, the client is using a path format like /docker/container/{name}/action, while the server expects a format like /docker/action-container/{name}. This discrepancy is causing the 404 errors.

Here's a table summarizing the inconsistent path formats:

As you can see, the client is using a more generic path structure, while the server is using a more specific path structure that includes the action being performed on the container. This inconsistency needs to be addressed to resolve the 404 errors.

To further elaborate on the impact of this mismatch, consider a scenario where you're programmatically scaling your Hummingbot instances based on market conditions. Your script relies on the start_container and stop_container methods to manage the Docker containers. However, due to this path inconsistency, these methods fail intermittently, leading to unpredictable scaling behavior and potentially impacting your trading performance. Moreover, the remove_container method failing can lead to orphaned containers accumulating over time, consuming valuable system resources and complicating container management.

Therefore, it's crucial to address this issue promptly to ensure the smooth and reliable operation of your Hummingbot instances and to prevent potential performance degradation or resource exhaustion. A consistent API endpoint structure is essential for seamless integration and automation of Docker container management within the Hummingbot ecosystem.

Affected Code

The affected code is in the hummingbot_api_client/routers/docker.py file, specifically lines 37-48.

# Current implementation (incorrect)
async def stop_container(self, container_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    return await self._post(f"/docker/container/{container_name}/stop")

# Should be
async def stop_container(self, container_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    return await self._post(f"/docker/stop-container/{container_name}")

Similar changes are needed for the start_container and remove_container methods. The current implementation uses the incorrect path format, which needs to be updated to match the server's endpoint definition.

Here's how the start_container and remove_container methods should be updated:

# Current implementation (incorrect) for start_container
async def start_container(self, container_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    return await self._post(f"/docker/container/{container_name}/start")

# Corrected implementation for start_container
async def start_container(self, container_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    return await self._post(f"/docker/start-container/{container_name}")

# Current implementation (incorrect) for remove_container
async def remove_container(self, container_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    return await self._delete(f"/docker/container/{container_name}")

# Corrected implementation for remove_container
async def remove_container(self, container_name: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    return await self._delete(f"/docker/remove-container/{container_name}")

By making these changes, the client will use the correct path format, and the server will be able to correctly process the requests. This will resolve the 404 errors and allow you to manage your Docker containers through the API without any issues.

Moreover, it is essential to ensure that the changes are accompanied by thorough testing. This includes unit tests to verify the correctness of the individual methods and integration tests to ensure that the Docker container management methods work seamlessly within the larger Hummingbot ecosystem. Testing should cover various scenarios, such as starting, stopping, and removing containers under different conditions, to ensure that the fix is robust and reliable.

Also, updating the documentation is a must. Clear and accurate documentation helps users understand how to use the API correctly and avoid potential pitfalls. The documentation should clearly outline the correct endpoint paths for the Docker container management methods and provide examples of how to use them effectively.

Reference

Server endpoint definition: https://github.com/hummingbot/hummingbot-api/blob/main/routers/docker.py

This link points to the server-side code that defines the correct endpoint paths. It's a useful reference for understanding the expected path format.

Willing to Submit PR

I'm happy to submit a PR to fix this issue if needed. Just let me know, and I'll get started on it right away!

Submitting a PR involves creating a pull request on the Hummingbot API repository. This PR will include the necessary changes to the hummingbot_api_client/routers/docker.py file to correct the endpoint paths for the stop_container, start_container, and remove_container methods. The PR will also include unit tests and integration tests to verify the correctness of the fix. Once the PR is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Hummingbot team, and if approved, it will be merged into the main codebase.

To create a PR, follow these steps:

1. Fork the Hummingbot API repository on GitHub.
2. Create a new branch in your forked repository.
3. Make the necessary changes to the hummingbot_api_client/routers/docker.py file.
4. Add unit tests and integration tests to verify the fix.
5. Commit your changes to the new branch.
6. Create a pull request from your branch to the main Hummingbot API repository.

Be sure to include a clear and concise description of the issue and the fix in your PR. This will help the Hummingbot team understand the changes and review them more efficiently.

In conclusion, this Docker API endpoint path mismatch is causing 404 errors that can disrupt the management of Docker containers within the Hummingbot ecosystem. By updating the client-side code to use the correct endpoint paths, we can resolve these errors and ensure the smooth and reliable operation of Hummingbot instances. I'm ready to contribute a PR to address this issue and help improve the stability and usability of the Hummingbot API.