Ability to extend available HTTP methods in esp_http_client (IDFGH-3441)

[kaelef]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

I'm trying to convert a project that uses Arduino-ESP32 to one that's pure ESP-IDF. The project communicates with WebDAV, so it needs to be able to send HTTP requests with methods like PROPFIND, MOVE, etc. When using the HttpClient class in Arduino-ESP32, the sendRequest(TYPE, payload, size) is available. Since TYPE is a string, any method name can be specified. esp_http_client uses an enum, esp_http_client_method_t, and provides no way to override the HTTP method string with something not in the enum list.

Describe the solution you'd like

Either the esp_http_client_method_t enum can be extended to include the standard WebDAV methods, or a way to specify an arbitrary method the way HttpClient in Arudino-ESP32 allows would solve the problem.

esp_http_client_set_method() could be overloaded to allow use of a char pointer in place of a esp_http_client_method_t value.

Describe alternatives you've considered

I've looked at the source for esp_http_client, and the method string is placed into the outgoing buffer before the usual HTTP headers are added. I don't see a way to fix this without making my own version of esp_http_client that doesn't have this limitation.

[Alvin1Zhang]

@kaelef Thanks for raising this feature request.

[shubhamkulkarni97]

@kaelef,

It is not possible to change API signature to allow specifying arbitrary method. The only way is to add methods in esp_http_client_method_t enum.

Can you elaborate what all methods need to be added in esp_http_client_method_t?

[kaelef]

WebDAV is described well here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebDAV
The additional methods it specifies are:

• COPY
• MOVE
• LOCK
• UNLOCK
• PROPFIND
• PROPPATCH
• MKCOL

[shubhamkulkarni97]

Hi @kaelef,

Can you try the patch attached below and check if it solves your purpose?

Please let us know if the change works for you.
esp_http_client_add_methods.patch.zip

[kaelef]

Yes, this will work - thank you!