DrugBank Sample Applications

Sample applications for accessing the DrugBank API with a back-end written in multiple languages.

Components

Front-End

• Bootstrap
• jQuery
• Selectize.js
• Select2
• DataTables
• Prism

Back-End

Implementation	Package Manager	Microframework	HTTP Client	Template Engine
Java	Apache Maven	Spark	javax.net.ssl.HttpsURLConnection	jinjava (Jinja2)
Node.js	npm	Express	axios	nunjucks (Jinja2)
PHP	Composer	Slim	Guzzle	slim/twig-view (Twig*)
Python	pip	Flask	Requests	Jinja (Jinja2)
Ruby	Bundler	Sinatra	httparty	Haml (Haml)

*Twig is similar to Jinja2, so the Jinja2 templates are used in the PHP app without issue.

How It Works

The sample application is a web app that is accessed through the usage of a web browser. When an app is run, a server starts on your local machine that handles communications between the DrugBank API and the web app, and serves HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the app. Each implementation is built using a microframework.

All requests from the web app to the API are handled by the server. The server receives the request from the web app, and sends it along to the DrugBank API. The response from the API is sent back to the server, and the server sends it back to the web app.

Token Authentication

Included is a variant of the app that uses JSON Web Tokens to access the the API directly from web browsers. Tokens allow short term access to the DrugBank API without exposing your secret API key, and are guaranteed to expire within 24 hours. For more information, check here.

The use of token authentication is required for accessing DrugBank APIs directly from web browsers.

How to Use

General Information

By default, each app should be running at http://127.0.0.1:8080/ and is accessed by going to that address in a web browser. To stop the server, press CTRL+C.

Each implementation determines the port to run on as well as the DrugBank API key and the region to use for searches from the config.json file at the root of the repo. To change the port, API key, or region, simply change the values in the config.json. The region and API key can also be changed from the support page within the app.

Note: the Java app may not behave like this, as when it is compiled it creates a copy of config.json for itself at drugbank-sample-apps\java\db-app\target\classes.

Docker

All apps can be run via Docker. The easiest way to do this is through Docker Compose commands:

app	command
java	docker-compose up java
nodejs	docker-compose up nodejs
nodejs-JWT	docker-compose up nodejs-jwt
php	docker-compose up php
python	docker-compose up python
ruby	docker-compose up ruby

Docker containers and images created through these commands can be cleaned up by running the following from the project root:

./clean-docker.sh

Manual setup

Java

First, ensure that Apache Maven is installed.

Navigate to drugbank-sample-apps/java/db-app. Compile the app by running

mvn clean compile

The app is then run with the command

mvn exec:java

Visit http://localhost:port/ to view the app, where port is the port number declared in the config.json. The current port will also be be given in the console.

Node.js

Navigate to drugbank-sample-apps/nodejs (or drugbank-sample-apps/nodejs - JWT for the token-based app). Run the command

npm install

to install all dependencies. The app is then run with the command

node app.js

Visit the address given in the console to view the app.

PHP

Note: due to the way Slim handles static resources, a location outside of the project could not be specified like for the other apps. Copies of the JavaScript and CSS files had to be made and placed at drugbank-sample-apps/php/public. Keep this in mind if you want to edit or add resources.

First, ensure that Composer is installed.

Navigate to drugbank-sample-apps/php. Run the command

php composer.phar install

to install the needed dependencies. To host the app on PHP's built in server, use the command

php -S localhost:port -t public public/index.php

where port is the port you want to host the app on. The port must be specified with the launch command, so it can't be determined from the config.json like the other apps.

Visit localhost:port to view the app.

To host with a different server (like Apache), see Slim's web server documentation.

Python

The Python app is run in a virtual environment, which is how the Flask documentation recommends installing and running the app. Below is a quick rundown on getting the app up and running with a virtual environment. More information can be found below:

• Flask Documentation
• PyPA Documentation

Of course, the app can be run without a virtual environment. To do so, just skip to Installing the Requirements.

Creating the Virtual Environment

Navigate to drugbank-sample-apps/python. Run the following command to create the virtual environment from where the app will run.

On macOS and Linux:

python3 -m venv env

On Windows:

py -m venv env

If you are using Python 2, replace venv with virtualenv in the commands.

A virtual environment called env is now located at drugbank-sample-apps/python/env.

Activating the Virtual Environment

On macOS and Linux:

source env/bin/activate

On Windows:

.\env\Scripts\activate

You should see the name of the virtual environment in brackets on your terminal line. Any Python commands you use will now work with the virtual environment.

To leave the virtual environment, simply run:

deactivate

Installing the Requirements

Now, install all the requirements needed for the app in the virtual environment. To do this, run:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Running the App

With the virtual environment set and the requirements installed, run:

python app.py

Visit the address given in the console to view the app.

Ruby

Setting the Ruby Version

Ensure that you have Ruby 2.7.1 installed.

Navigate to drugbank-sample-apps/ruby.

If you are using rbenv, Ruby 2.7.1 will be used automatically due to the .ruby-version file.

If you are using RVM, use the command

rvm use 2.7.1

If you are using chruby, use the command

chruby ruby-2.7.1

or if you have auto-switching enabled, the correct version will be used from the .ruby-version file.

Running the app

First, ensure that Bundler is installed.

Install the necessary gems by using the command

bundle install

The app is then run with the command

bundle exec ruby app.rb

Visit the default address with the port given in the console to view the app.