Micronaut Azure HTTP Functions

Learn how to create an Azure HTTP Function with the Micronaut framework

Authors: Sergio del Amo

Micronaut Version: 3.9.2

1. Getting Started

In this guide, we will create a Micronaut application written in Groovy.

2. What you will need

To complete this guide, you will need the following:

Some time on your hands
A decent text editor or IDE
JDK 1.8 or greater installed with JAVA_HOME configured appropriately

3. Solution

We recommend that you follow the instructions in the next sections and create the application step by step. However, you can go right to the completed example.

Download and unzip the source

4. Writing the Application

Create an application using the Micronaut Command Line Interface or with Micronaut Launch.

mn create-app example.micronaut.micronautguide \
    --features=azure-function \
    --build=gradle
    --lang=groovy

If you don’t specify the --build argument, Gradle is used as the build tool.
If you don’t specify the --lang argument, Java is used as the language.

The previous command creates a Micronaut application with the default package example.micronaut in a directory named micronautguide.

If you use Micronaut Launch, select Micronaut Application as application type and add azure-function features.

If you have an existing Micronaut application and want to add the functionality described here, you can view the dependency and configuration changes from the specified features and apply those changes to your application.

Setup IntelliJ IDEA to develop Micronaut Applications.

5. Azure CLI

Install Azure CLI

Azure CLI is a set of commands used to create and manage Azure resources. The Azure CLI is available across Azure services and is designed to get you working quickly with Azure, with an emphasis on automation.

6. Azure Functions Core Tools

Install the Azure Functions Core Tools

Azure Function Core Tools includes a version of the same runtime that powers Azure Functions runtime that you can run on your local development computer. It also provides commands to create functions, connect to Azure, and deploy function projects.

7. Function

The created application contains class which extends AzureHttpFunction

src/main/groovy/example/micronaut/Function.groovy

package example.micronaut
import com.microsoft.azure.functions.annotation.*
import com.microsoft.azure.functions.*
import io.micronaut.azure.function.http.AzureHttpFunction

/**
 * Azure Functions with HTTP Trigger.
 */
class Function extends AzureHttpFunction {
    /**
     * This function listens at endpoint "/api/*". Two ways to invoke it using "curl" command in bash:
     * 1. curl -d "HTTP Body" {your host}/api/*&code={your function key}
     * 2. curl "{your host}/api/*?name=HTTP%20Query&code={your function key}"
     * Function Key is not needed when running locally, it is used to invoke function deployed to Azure.
     * More details: https://aka.ms/functions_authorization_keys
     */
    @FunctionName("ExampleTrigger")
    HttpResponseMessage invoke(
            @HttpTrigger(
                name = "req",
                methods = [HttpMethod.GET, HttpMethod.POST],
                route = "{*route}",
                authLevel = AuthorizationLevel.ANONYMOUS)
                HttpRequestMessage<Optional<String>> request,
                final ExecutionContext context) {
        return super.route(request, context)
    }
}

When you write a Micronaut Azure HTTP function, you will write your application as you will normally do when developing outside of Azure functions. That it is to say, you will create routes with classes annotated with @Controller. The above class bridges both worlds. It adapts from an Azure to a Micronaut HTTP Request, and based on the route, it delegates to the appropriate Micronaut controller.

8. Controller

The generated application contains a Controller which exposes two routes (GET and POST):

src/main/groovy/example/micronaut/MicronautguideController.groovy

Unresolved directive in micronaut-azure-http-functions-gradle-groovy.adoc - include::build/code/micronaut-azure-http-functions/micronaut-azure-http-functions-gradle-groovy/src/main/groovy/example/micronaut/MicronautguideController.groovy[]

The class is defined as a controller with the @Controller annotation mapped to the path /micronautguide.
The @Get annotation maps the index method to all requests that use an HTTP GET.
By default, a Micronaut response uses application/json as Content-Type. index method returns a String not a JSON object. Because of that, we set the response content-type to text/plain with the @Produces annotation.
The @Post annotation maps the postMethod method to all requests that use an HTTP GET.
Annotate the class with @Introspected to generate BeanIntrospection metadata at compilation time. This information can be used, for example, to render the POJO as JSON using Jackson without using reflection.

9. Tests

The generated application contains a test which shows how to write a Micronaut Azure HTTP Function tests.

src/test/groovy/example/micronaut/MicronautguideFunctionSpec.groovy

Unresolved directive in micronaut-azure-http-functions-gradle-groovy.adoc - include::build/code/micronaut-azure-http-functions/micronaut-azure-http-functions-gradle-groovy/src/test/groovy/example/micronaut/MicronautguideFunctionSpec.groovy[]

Instantiating the function starts the Micronaut application context.

10. Testing the Application

To run the tests:

./gradlew test

Then open build/reports/tests/test/index.html in a browser to see the results.

11. Running the Application

The generated application includes the Azure Functions plugin for Gradle

To run the application use the ./gradlew azureFunctionsRun command which will start the application on port 8080.

You can invoke the GET route:

curl -i localhost:7071/api/micronautguide

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Sat, 08 May 2021 03:55:11 GMT
Content-Type: text/plain
Server: Kestrel
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

Example Response

or the POST route:

curl -i -d '{"name":"John Snow"}' -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST http://localhost:7071/api/micronautguide

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Sat, 08 May 2021 03:57:56 GMT
Content-Type: application/json
Server: Kestrel
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

{"returnMessage":"Hello John Snow, thank you for sending the message"}

12. Create Azure Function App

Create a Function App in the Microsoft Azure Portal. If you prefer, use the Azure CLI.

12.1. Basics | Create Function App

Select:

Runtime stack: Java
Version: 11
Region Central US

12.2. Hosting | Create Function App

Select:

Operating System: Windows.
Plan type: Consumption.

12.3. Monitoring | Create Function App

Enable Application Insights.

12.4. Tags | Create Function App

12.5. Review & Create | Create Function App

13. Deploy Azure Function App

az login

Edit build.gradle. Set the azurefunctions extension values to match the values you introduced in the Microsoft Azure Portal.

Use ./gradlew azureFunctionsDeploy to deploy your Azure Function App.

./gradlew azureFunctionsDeploy

Successfully updated the function app testmicronaut.
Trying to deploy the function app...
Trying to deploy artifact to testmicronaut...
Successfully deployed the artifact to https://storageaccountexamp9ec5.blob.core.windows.net/java-functions-run-from-packages/subscriptions-9825e0b9-244a-4eeb-9194-d3e8123fe1a0-resourceGroups-examplemicronaut-providers-Microsoft.Web-sites-testmicronaut-testmicronaut.zip
Successfully deployed the function app at https://testmicronaut.azurewebsites.net

If you visit https://testmicronaut.azurewebsites.net/ you will get an HTML page informing you that the function is up and running.