API and Data Validation

PowerShell Help
1

Hi all

I have written a script (let’s call it X.ps1) which pulls data from one system via a small API wrapper (A.psm1), manipulates it and then sends it via POST or PUT to a second system, via another API wrapper (B.psm1).

A.psm1 > X.ps1 > [do some stuff] > B.psm1

System B has some quirks, which mean that I need to validate the output from System A before sending it. E.g. if “Gender” is not “M” or “F”, the request fails - this often causes issues if the field is empty/null in System A. Adding basic validation is simple enough, but I am not sure where to put it. Should X.ps1 check the data before invoking commands in B.psm1? Or should B.psm1 do the validation and send back warnings/errors to X.ps1 ?

Cheers!

2

I would manipulate the data in X so that it runs B with arguments. Tell B which parameters are mandatory and validate them.

3

So, to use my example, if X retrieves a record from A which includes Gender=null, it should be passed to B where validation will occur. X should then use try/catch to deal with the resulting validation error in B, rather than X checking the contents of the Gender field itself. This approach means X doesn’t need to be aware of any changes to B (e.g. B may be updated to accept Gender=null later on).

Does that sound about right?