Making POST Requests

This guide explains how to use the HTTP Client to send data to an external API using a POST request. Because POST requests typically create resources or trigger actions, this guide shows you how to ensure your request executes only once, even though multiple nodes in the DON run your workflow.

All HTTP requests are wrapped in a consensus mechanism. The SDK provides two ways to do this:

http.SendRequest: A high-level helper function that simplifies making requests. This is the recommended approach for most use cases.
cre.RunInNodeMode: The lower-level pattern for more complex scenarios.

Choosing your approach

Use `http.SendRequest` (Section 1) when:

Making a single HTTP POST request
Your logic is straightforward: make request → parse response → return result
You want simple, clean code with minimal boilerplate
You need to use secrets (fetch them first and use closures—see Using secrets with http.SendRequest)

This is the recommended approach for most use cases.

Use `cre.RunInNodeMode` (Section 2) when:

You need multiple HTTP requests with logic between them
You need conditional execution (if/else based on runtime conditions)
You're combining HTTP with other node-level operations
You need custom retry logic or complex error handling

If you're unsure, start with Section 1. You can always migrate to Section 2 later if your requirements become more complex.

For this example, we will use webhook.site, a free service that provides a unique URL to which you can send requests and see the results in real-time.

Prerequisites

This guide assumes you have a basic understanding of CRE. If you are new, we strongly recommend completing the Getting Started tutorial first.

1. The `http.SendRequest` Pattern (recommended)

The http.SendRequest helper function is the simplest and recommended way to make POST requests. It automatically handles the cre.RunInNodeMode pattern for you.

Step 1: Generate your unique webhook URL

Go to webhook.site.
Copy the unique URL provided for use in your configuration.

Step 2: Configure your workflow

In your config.json file, add the webhook URL:

{
  "webhookUrl": "https://webhook.site/<your-unique-id>",
  "schedule": "*/30 * * * * *"
}

Step 3: Implement the POST request logic

1. Understanding single-execution with `CacheSettings`

Before writing code, it's important to understand how to prevent duplicate POST requests. When your workflow runs, all nodes in the DON execute your code. For POST requests that create resources or trigger actions, this would cause duplicates.

The solution: Use CacheSettings in your HTTP request. This enables a shared cache across nodes:

The first node makes the HTTP request and stores the response in the cache
Other nodes check the cache first and reuse the cached response
Result: Only one actual HTTP call is made, while all nodes participate in consensus

Key configuration:

Store: true — Enables caching of the response
MaxAge — How long to accept cached responses (as a *durationpb.Duration)

Now let's implement this pattern.

2. Define your data structures

In your main.go, define the structs for your configuration, the data to be sent, and the response you want to achieve consensus on.

type Config struct {
	WebhookUrl string `json:"webhookUrl"`
	Schedule   string `json:"schedule"`
}

type MyData struct {
	Message string `json:"message"`
	Value   int    `json:"value"`
}

type PostResponse struct {
	StatusCode uint32 `json:"statusCode" consensus_aggregation:"identical"`
}

type MyResult struct{}

3. Create the data posting function

Create the function that will be passed to http.SendRequest. It prepares the data, serializes it to JSON, and uses the sendRequester to send the POST request with CacheSettings to ensure single execution.

func postData(config *Config, logger *slog.Logger, sendRequester *http.SendRequester) (*PostResponse, error) {
	// 1. Prepare the data to be sent
	dataToSend := MyData{
		Message: "Hello there!",
		Value:   77,
	}

	// 2. Serialize the data to JSON
	body, err := json.Marshal(dataToSend)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
	}

	// 3. Construct the POST request with CacheSettings
	req := &http.Request{
		Url:    config.WebhookUrl,
		Method: "POST",
		Body:   body,
		Headers: map[string]string{
			"Content-Type": "application/json",
		},
		CacheSettings: &http.CacheSettings{
			Store:   true,                             // Enable caching
			MaxAge:  durationpb.New(60 * time.Second), // Accept cached responses up to 1 minute old
		},
	}

	// 4. Send the request and wait for the response
	resp, err := sendRequester.SendRequest(req).Await()
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to send POST request: %w", err)
	}

	logger.Info("HTTP Response", "statusCode", resp.StatusCode, "body", string(resp.Body))
	return &PostResponse{StatusCode: resp.StatusCode}, nil
}

4. Call `http.SendRequest` from your handler

In your main onCronTrigger handler, call the http.SendRequest helper, passing it your postData function.

func onCronTrigger(config *Config, runtime cre.Runtime, trigger *cron.Payload) (*MyResult, error) {
    logger := runtime.Logger()
    client := &http.Client{}

	postPromise := http.SendRequest(config, runtime, client,
		postData,
		cre.ConsensusAggregationFromTags[*PostResponse](),
	)

	_, err := postPromise.Await()
	if err != nil {
		logger.Error("POST promise failed", "error", err)
		return nil, err
	}

	logger.Info("Successfully sent data to webhook.")
	return &MyResult{}, nil
}

5. Assemble the full workflow

Finally, add the InitWorkflow and main functions.

func InitWorkflow(config *Config, logger *slog.Logger, secretsProvider cre.SecretsProvider) (cre.Workflow[*Config], error) {
	return cre.Workflow[*Config]{
		cre.Handler(
			cron.Trigger(&cron.Config{Schedule: config.Schedule}),
			onCronTrigger,
		),
	}, nil
}

func main() {
	wasm.NewRunner(cre.ParseJSON[Config]).Run(InitWorkflow)
}

The complete workflow file

//go:build wasip1

package main

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"log/slog"
	"time"

	"github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go/capabilities/networking/http"
	"github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go/capabilities/scheduler/cron"
	"github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go/cre"
	"github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go/cre/wasm"
	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/durationpb"
)

type Config struct {
	WebhookUrl string `json:"webhookUrl"`
	Schedule   string `json:"schedule"`
}

type MyData struct {
	Message string `json:"message"`
	Value   int    `json:"value"`
}

type PostResponse struct {
	StatusCode uint32 `json:"statusCode" consensus_aggregation:"identical"`
}

type MyResult struct{}

func InitWorkflow(config *Config, logger *slog.Logger, secretsProvider cre.SecretsProvider) (cre.Workflow[*Config], error) {
	return cre.Workflow[*Config]{
		cre.Handler(
			cron.Trigger(&cron.Config{Schedule: config.Schedule}),
			onCronTrigger,
		),
	}, nil
}

func postData(config *Config, logger *slog.Logger, sendRequester *http.SendRequester) (*PostResponse, error) {
	// 1. Prepare the data to be sent
	dataToSend := MyData{
		Message: "Hello there!",
		Value:   77,
	}

	// 2. Serialize the data to JSON
	body, err := json.Marshal(dataToSend)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
	}

	// 3. Construct the POST request with CacheSettings
	req := &http.Request{
		Url:    config.WebhookUrl,
		Method: "POST",
		Body:   body,
		Headers: map[string]string{
			"Content-Type": "application/json",
		},
		CacheSettings: &http.CacheSettings{
			Store:   true,                             // Enable caching
			MaxAge:  durationpb.New(60 * time.Second), // Accept cached responses up to 1 minute old
		},
	}

	// 4. Send the request and wait for the response
	resp, err := sendRequester.SendRequest(req).Await()
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to send POST request: %w", err)
	}

	logger.Info("HTTP Response", "statusCode", resp.StatusCode, "body", string(resp.Body))
	return &PostResponse{StatusCode: resp.StatusCode}, nil
}

func onCronTrigger(config *Config, runtime cre.Runtime, trigger *cron.Payload) (*MyResult, error) {
    logger := runtime.Logger()
    client := &http.Client{}

	postPromise := http.SendRequest(config, runtime, client,
		postData,
		cre.ConsensusAggregationFromTags[*PostResponse](),
	)

	_, err := postPromise.Await()
	if err != nil {
		logger.Error("POST promise failed", "error", err)
		return nil, err
	}

	logger.Info("Successfully sent data to webhook.")
	return &MyResult{}, nil
}

func main() {
	wasm.NewRunner(cre.ParseJSON[Config]).Run(InitWorkflow)
}

Step 4: Sync your dependencies

Sync Dependencies: Your code imports the following packages. Run the following go get commands to add them to your Go module.

go get github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go/capabilities/networking/http@v1.0.0-beta.0
go get github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go/capabilities/scheduler/cron@v1.0.0-beta.0
go get github.com/smartcontractkit/cre-sdk-go@v1.0.0

Clean up and organize your module files:
```
go mod tidy
```

Step 5: Run the simulation and verify

Run the simulation:

cre workflow simulate my-workflow --target staging-settings

Check webhook.site:

Open the webhook.site page with your unique URL. You should see a new request appear. Click on it to inspect the details, and you will see the JSON payload you sent.
```
{
  "message": "Hello there!",
  "value": 77
}
```

Using secrets with `http.SendRequest` (optional)

If your POST request requires authentication (e.g., an API key in the headers), you can use secrets with http.SendRequest by fetching the secret first and using a closure pattern.

1. Configure your secret

Add your secret to .env:

API_KEY=your-secret-api-key

Add the secret declaration to secrets.yaml:

secretsNames:
  API_KEY:
    - API_KEY

For more details on configuring secrets, see Secrets.

2. Create a wrapper function

Create a function that returns a closure capturing the API key:

// ResponseFunc matches the signature expected by http.SendRequest
type ResponseFunc func(config *Config, logger *slog.Logger, sendRequester *http.SendRequester) (*PostResponse, error)

// withAPIKey returns a function that has access to the API key via closure
func withAPIKey(apiKey string) ResponseFunc {
	return func(config *Config, logger *slog.Logger, sendRequester *http.SendRequester) (*PostResponse, error) {
		// Prepare the data to be sent
		dataToSend := MyData{
			Message: "Hello there!",
			Value:   77,
		}

		// Serialize the data to JSON
		body, err := json.Marshal(dataToSend)
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
		}

		// Construct the POST request with API key in headers
		req := &http.Request{
			Url:    config.WebhookUrl,
			Method: "POST",
			Body:   body,
			Headers: map[string]string{
				"Content-Type":  "application/json",
				"Authorization": "Bearer " + apiKey, // Use the secret from closure
			},
			CacheSettings: &http.CacheSettings{
				Store:  true,
				MaxAge: durationpb.New(60 * time.Second),
			},
		}

		// Send the request and wait for the response
		resp, err := sendRequester.SendRequest(req).Await()
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to send POST request: %w", err)
		}

		logger.Info("HTTP Response", "statusCode", resp.StatusCode, "body", string(resp.Body))
		return &PostResponse{StatusCode: resp.StatusCode}, nil
	}
}

3. Update your handler to fetch the secret

Modify your onCronTrigger handler to fetch the secret and use the wrapper function:

func onCronTrigger(config *Config, runtime cre.Runtime, trigger *cron.Payload) (*MyResult, error) {
	logger := runtime.Logger()

	// 1. Fetch the secret first
	secretReq := &pb.SecretRequest{
		Id: "API_KEY", // The secret name from secrets.yaml
	}
	secret, err := runtime.GetSecret(secretReq).Await()
	if err != nil {
		logger.Error("Failed to get API key", "error", err)
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get API key: %w", err)
	}

	apiKey := secret.Value

	// 2. Use http.SendRequest with the closure that captures the API key
	client := &http.Client{}
	postPromise := http.SendRequest(config, runtime, client,
		withAPIKey(apiKey), // Pass the wrapper function
		cre.ConsensusAggregationFromTags[*PostResponse](),
	)

	_, err = postPromise.Await()
	if err != nil {
		logger.Error("POST promise failed", "error", err)
		return nil, err
	}

	logger.Info("Successfully sent authenticated data to webhook.")
	return &MyResult{}, nil
}

2. The `cre.RunInNodeMode` pattern (alternative)

For more complex scenarios or when you prefer working directly with the lower-level API, you can use cre.RunInNodeMode. This pattern gives you direct access to nodeRuntime within the callback function.

Example with secrets

Here's how to make a POST request with an API key from secrets:

func onCronTrigger(config *Config, runtime cre.Runtime, trigger *cron.Payload) (*MyResult, error) {
    logger := runtime.Logger()

	// Define a function that has access to runtime (and thus secrets)
	postDataWithAuth := func(config *Config, nodeRuntime cre.NodeRuntime) (*PostResponse, error) {
		// 1. Get the API key from secrets
		secretReq := &pb.SecretRequest{
			Id: "API_KEY", // The secret name from your secrets.yaml
		}
		secret, err := runtime.GetSecret(secretReq).Await()
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get API key: %w", err)
		}

		// Use the secret value
		apiKey := secret.Value

		// 2. Prepare the data to be sent
		dataToSend := MyData{
			Message: "Hello there!",
			Value:   77,
		}

		// 3. Serialize the data to JSON
		body, err := json.Marshal(dataToSend)
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal data: %w", err)
		}

		// 4. Create HTTP client and construct request with API key
		client := &http.Client{}
		req := &http.Request{
			Url:    config.WebhookUrl,
			Method: "POST",
			Body:   body,
			Headers: map[string]string{
				"Content-Type":  "application/json",
				"Authorization": "Bearer " + apiKey, // Use the secret
			},
			CacheSettings: &http.CacheSettings{
				Store:  true,
				MaxAge: durationpb.New(60 * time.Second),
			},
		}

		// 5. Send the request
		resp, err := client.SendRequest(nodeRuntime, req).Await()
		if err != nil {
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to send POST request: %w", err)
		}

		logger.Info("HTTP Response", "statusCode", resp.StatusCode, "body", string(resp.Body))
		return &PostResponse{StatusCode: resp.StatusCode}, nil
	}

	// Execute the function with consensus
	postPromise := cre.RunInNodeMode(config, runtime,
		postDataWithAuth,
		cre.ConsensusAggregationFromTags[*PostResponse](),
	)

	_, err := postPromise.Await()
	if err != nil {
		logger.Error("POST promise failed", "error", err)
		return nil, err
	}

	logger.Info("Successfully sent data to webhook.")
	return &MyResult{}, nil
}

Learn more

HTTP Client SDK Reference — Complete API reference with all request options
Secrets — Learn how to securely use API keys and sensitive data
GET Requests — Learn how to fetch data from APIs

Making POST Requests

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