DEV Community: Precious Edmund

HNG-StageN-1:Number Facts API: A Fun & Interactive Flask Web Service

Precious Edmund — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:26:24 +0000

Overview

The Number Facts API is a Flask-based web service that classifies numbers and provides interesting mathematical properties along with a fun fact. This API supports several mathematical functions such as determining whether a number is prime, perfect, or Armstrong, classifying numbers as odd or even, computing the sum of its digits, and retrieving fun facts using the Numbers API.

This project is part of my HNG Internship DevOps Bootcamp, and as I mentioned in my earlier post, I’ll be sharing the next stage with you here on this platform. But first, here’s the Stage 1 task in my HNG internship journey!

Key Features

Classifies Numbers: Determines if a number is prime, perfect, Armstrong, odd, or even.
Sum of Digits: Computes the sum of a number’s digits.
Fun Facts: Fetches a fun fact about the number using Numbers API.
API Response: Returns information in JSON format.
Handles Errors Gracefully: If an invalid input is provided, the API will return a meaningful error message.

API Endpoint

GET `/api/classify-number?number=<integer>`

Example Request:

curl "http://127.0.0.1:5000/api/classify-number?number=371"

Success Response (200 OK):

{
    "number": 371,
    "is_prime": false,
    "is_perfect": false,
    "properties": ["armstrong", "odd"],
    "digit_sum": 11,
    "fun_fact": "371 is an Armstrong number because 3^3 + 7^3 + 1^3 = 371"
}

Error Response (400 Bad Request):

{
    "number": "abc",
    "error": true
}

Installation & Running the API

Prerequisites

Before running the API, ensure you have the following installed:

Python 3
Flask: Python web framework.
Requests Library: For making HTTP requests to fetch fun facts about the numbers.

Setup

Clone the Repository:

git clone https://github.com/P3dmund/HNG-Stage-1.git
cd HNG-Stage-1

Install Dependencies using requirements.txt:
```
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
Run the API:
```
python app.py
```
The API will be accessible at http://127.0.0.1:5000.

You can now make requests to:
```
http://127.0.0.1:5000/api/classify-number?number=371
```

Deployment on Render

Prerequisites

GitHub Account: You need a GitHub account to push your project.
Render Account: Render is a cloud platform that supports Python-based deployments.

Steps to Deploy the API on Render:

Push the Code to GitHub:

Push your code to a GitHub repository (if not done already).
Create a New Web Service on Render:
- Log in to your Render account.
- Navigate to the "Dashboard" and click on New Web Service.
- Link your GitHub repository to Render.
Configure Start Command:

Set the Start Command as:
```
python app.py
```
Deploy:
- Click Deploy and wait for the deployment to finish.
- After deployment, Render will provide a public URL for your API.

Gunicorn Challenges and Solutions

While deploying Flask applications on Render, it’s common to encounter Gunicorn-related issues, such as:

Problem:

After deployment, the API might fail with an error like:

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'flask'

This error happens when Gunicorn can't locate the required dependencies, or the application isn't set up properly for a WSGI server.

Solution: Using Gunicorn Properly

Install Gunicorn:
```
pip install gunicorn
```

Update Your app.py:

Ensure your Flask app has the proper WSGI entry point:

from flask import Flask, jsonify, request
app = Flask(__name__)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

Configure Gunicorn in Render:
- In Render, modify the Start Command to use Gunicorn instead of python app.py:
```
  gunicorn app:app
```
Redeploy the Application

After applying these fixes, your Number Facts API should work correctly on Render! 🎉

Testing the API

To test the API locally or after deployment, you can use:

Browser: Visit http://127.0.0.1:5000/api/classify-number?number=371 (for local testing).
Postman: Send a GET request to the URL and check the response.

cURL:

curl "http://127.0.0.1:5000/api/classify-number?number=371"

Conclusion

This Number Facts API is a fun and interactive way to explore numbers and their properties through a Flask-based web service. It provides classification, digit sum computation, and fun facts about numbers.

This project marks Stage 1 of my journey in the HNG Internship DevOps Bootcamp. As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ll be sharing the next stage here as well! Stay tuned for more updates as I progress through the internship. 🚀

If you found this useful or are also participating in HNG, let’s connect! Drop a comment and share your experience. 👇

[Boost]

Precious Edmund — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:47:57 +0000

Setting Up NGINX on Ubuntu: My DevOps Stage 0 Journey

Precious Edmund ・ Jan 29

#nginx #html #devops #ubuntu

Setting Up NGINX on Ubuntu: My DevOps Stage 0 Journey

Precious Edmund — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:30:10 +0000

Setting Up NGINX on Ubuntu: My DevOps Stage 0 Journey

Introduction

As part of the HNG DevOps Stage 0 task, I was required to install and configure NGINX on a fresh Ubuntu server. The goal was to create a custom webpage accessible via a public IP address, demonstrating my ability to work with basic web server configurations. Here's a detailed walkthrough of my approach, challenges faced, and what I learned during the process.

Step 1: Setting Up the Server

I chose Microsoft Azure Platform to provision a virtual machine with the following specifications:

OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
CPU/RAM: 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM
Public IP Address: Assigned during setup.

To access the server, I used SSH with the following command:

ssh username@<server-ip>

Once connected, I ensured my system was updated using:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Installing and Configuring NGINX

The first step was to install the NGINX web server:

sudo apt install nginx -y

I verified the installation by checking the status:

sudo systemctl status nginx

To ensure my server was accessible, I allowed HTTP traffic through the firewall:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx HTTP'
sudo ufw enable

Step 3: Creating the Custom HTML Page

The task required me to create a custom webpage with the message:

Welcome to DevOps Stage 0 - [Your Name]/[SlackName]

I navigated to the default NGINX web root directory:

cd /var/www/html

Using a text editor, I created and edited the index.html file:

sudo nano index.html

I added the following content:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>DevOps Stage 0</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Welcome to DevOps Stage 0 - [Your Name]/[SlackName]</h1>
</body>
</html>

Finally, I restarted NGINX to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 4: Testing the Configuration

To verify the setup, I opened a browser and navigated to:

http://<server-ip>

The custom HTML page loaded successfully, displaying the required message:
"Welcome to DevOps Stage 0 - [Your Name]/[SlackName]".

I also tested accessibility from another machine to ensure it worked publicly.

Challenges Faced and Solutions

Challenge 1: SSH Connection Issues

Initially, my public IP did not load the default NGINX page. After troubleshooting, I realized that Azure blocks inbound HTTP traffic by default. I had to create an Inbound Rule in Azure Network Security Group (NSG) to allow HTTP traffic, which resolved the issue.

Challenge 2: NGINX Default Page Displaying

After configuration, the default NGINX page still appeared. I realized the issue was with caching and cleared it by refreshing the browser.

Reflections and Learning

This task helped me solidify my understanding of:

Installing and configuring web servers like NGINX.
Troubleshooting common server and networking issues.
Managing basic Linux commands and file configurations.

It also emphasized the importance of documentation and attention to detail, as small misconfigurations could cause issues.

Conclusion

Completing this task was a rewarding experience and a step forward in my DevOps journey. It gave me hands-on exposure to web server setup and provided insights into how web infrastructure is managed.

References

I used the following links to gain additional insights and inspiration:

Screenshot

Why I Applied for the HNG DevOps Bootcamp to Sharpen My Cloud Engineering Skills

Precious Edmund — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:10:44 +0000

Introduction

As a cloud engineer constantly looking for ways to enhance my skill set, I recently applied for the HNG DevOps Bootcamp. The decision wasn’t just about adding another program to my resume but about challenging myself in a high-intensity learning environment that focuses on real-world DevOps scenarios.

The Need for Continuous Learning in Cloud Engineering

The cloud engineering landscape is rapidly evolving with new tools, best practices, and frameworks emerging regularly. As someone who has worked on cloud infrastructure, automation, and Kubernetes, I realized that while my knowledge is solid, there’s always room for improvement.

DevOps is not just about deploying applications but about ensuring efficiency, reliability, and scalability. This requires expertise in CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), security, observability, and automation—all of which the HNG DevOps Bootcamp emphasizes.

Why the HNG DevOps Bootcamp?

HNG is known for its intensive and hands-on learning approach. Unlike traditional courses, the bootcamp provides an opportunity to work on real-world projects while being mentored by industry experts. Here’s why I found it appealing:

Practical, project-based learning – I prefer learning by doing rather than just theoretical lessons.
Exposure to real DevOps workflows – The bootcamp simulates real-world scenarios, helping me refine my skills in cloud automation, CI/CD, and system reliability.
Networking with like-minded professionals – Connecting with peers and mentors in the cloud and DevOps space is invaluable for career growth.
Pushing my limits – The structured but intense nature of the program ensures that I stay disciplined and engaged.

My Learning Goals

By the end of the bootcamp, I aim to:

Strengthen my Infrastructure as Code (IaC) skills using Terraform and other automation tools.
Master CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or similar tools.
Improve cloud security best practices to ensure compliance and robust cloud architecture.
Enhance my Kubernetes knowledge for orchestrating and managing containerized applications.
Gain deeper insights into observability and monitoring using tools like Prometheus and Grafana.

Documenting My Journey

In addition to participating in the bootcamp, I will be documenting each step of my projects through a series of blog posts. These posts will cover:

Project planning and architecture decisions
Step-by-step implementation with technical deep dives
Troubleshooting challenges and solutions
Performance optimization and security best practices
Final deployment and reflections on lessons learned

By doing this, I hope to solidify my understanding, share my knowledge with the community, and create a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their DevOps skills.

Conclusion

Applying for the HNG DevOps Bootcamp is a step toward refining my cloud engineering expertise and staying competitive in the field.

If you're also considering upskilling in DevOps, I’d highly recommend checking out HNG and other structured programs to sharpen your skills.

Let’s connect! Are you currently participating in a DevOps bootcamp or have experience in cloud automation? Share your thoughts in the comments!

DEV Community: Precious Edmund

HNG-StageN-1:Number Facts API: A Fun & Interactive Flask Web Service

Overview

Key Features

API Endpoint

GET /api/classify-number?number=<integer>

Example Request:

Success Response (200 OK):

Error Response (400 Bad Request):

Installation & Running the API

Prerequisites

Setup

Deployment on Render

Prerequisites

Steps to Deploy the API on Render:

Gunicorn Challenges and Solutions

Problem:

Solution: Using Gunicorn Properly

Testing the API

Conclusion

[Boost]

Setting Up NGINX on Ubuntu: My DevOps Stage 0 Journey

Precious Edmund ・ Jan 29

Setting Up NGINX on Ubuntu: My DevOps Stage 0 Journey

Setting Up NGINX on Ubuntu: My DevOps Stage 0 Journey

Introduction

Step 1: Setting Up the Server

Step 2: Installing and Configuring NGINX

Step 3: Creating the Custom HTML Page

Step 4: Testing the Configuration

Challenges Faced and Solutions

Challenge 1: SSH Connection Issues

Challenge 2: NGINX Default Page Displaying

Reflections and Learning

Conclusion

References

Screenshot

Why I Applied for the HNG DevOps Bootcamp to Sharpen My Cloud Engineering Skills

Introduction

The Need for Continuous Learning in Cloud Engineering

Why the HNG DevOps Bootcamp?

My Learning Goals

Documenting My Journey

Conclusion

GET `/api/classify-number?number=<integer>`