Can I use a Chainlink Function to dowload a file?

Question

I found this example Chainlink Function https://github.com/smartcontractkit/functions-hardhat-starter-kit/blob/main/API-request-example.js:

```
// This example shows how to make a decentralized price feed using multiple APIs

// Arguments can be provided when a request is initated on-chain and used in the request source code as shown below
const coinMarketCapCoinId = args[0]
const coinGeckoCoinId = args[1]
const coinPaprikaCoinId = args[2]
const badApiCoinId = args[3]

if (
  secrets.apiKey == "" ||
  secrets.apiKey === "Your coinmarketcap API key (get a free one: https://coinmarketcap.com/api/)"
) {
  throw Error(
    "COINMARKETCAP_API_KEY environment variable not set for CoinMarketCap API.  Get a free key from https://coinmarketcap.com/api/"
  )
}

// To make an HTTP request, use the Functions.makeHttpRequest function
// Functions.makeHttpRequest function parameters:
// - url
// - method (optional, defaults to 'GET')
// - headers: headers supplied as an object (optional)
// - params: URL query parameters supplied as an object (optional)
// - data: request body supplied as an object (optional)
// - timeout: maximum request duration in ms (optional, defaults to 10000ms)
// - responseType: expected response type (optional, defaults to 'json')

// Use multiple APIs & aggregate the results to enhance decentralization
const coinMarketCapRequest = Functions.makeHttpRequest({
  url: `https://pro-api.coinmarketcap.com/v1/cryptocurrency/quotes/latest?convert=USD&id=${coinMarketCapCoinId}`,
  // Get a free API key from https://coinmarketcap.com/api/
  headers: { "X-CMC_PRO_API_KEY": secrets.apiKey },
})
const coinGeckoRequest = Functions.makeHttpRequest({
  url: `https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=${coinGeckoCoinId}&vs_currencies=usd`,
})
const coinPaprikaRequest = Functions.makeHttpRequest({
  url: `https://api.coinpaprika.com/v1/tickers/${coinPaprikaCoinId}`,
})
// This dummy request simulates a failed API request
const badApiRequest = Functions.makeHttpRequest({
  url: `https://badapi.com/price/symbol/${badApiCoinId}`,
})

// First, execute all the API requests are executed concurrently, then wait for the responses
const [coinMarketCapResponse, coinGeckoResponse, coinPaprikaResponse, badApiResponse] = await Promise.all([
  coinMarketCapRequest,
  coinGeckoRequest,
  coinPaprikaRequest,
  badApiRequest,
])

const prices = []

if (!coinMarketCapResponse.error) {
  prices.push(coinMarketCapResponse.data.data[coinMarketCapCoinId].quote.USD.price)
} else {
  console.log("CoinMarketCap Error")
}
if (!coinGeckoResponse.error) {
  prices.push(coinGeckoResponse.data[coinGeckoCoinId].usd)
} else {
  console.log("CoinGecko Error")
}
if (!coinPaprikaResponse.error) {
  prices.push(coinPaprikaResponse.data.quotes.USD.price)
} else {
  console.log("CoinPaprika Error")
}
// A single failed API request does not cause the whole request to fail
if (!badApiResponse.error) {
  prices.push(httpResponses[3].data.price.usd)
} else {
  console.log(
    "Bad API request failed. (This message is expected to demonstrate using console.log for debugging locally with the simulator)"
  )
}

// At least 3 out of 4 prices are needed to aggregate the median price
if (prices.length < 3) {
  // If an error is thrown, it will be returned back to the smart contract
  throw Error("More than 1 API failed")
}

const medianPrice = prices.sort((a, b) => a - b)[Math.round(prices.length / 2)]
console.log(`Median Bitcoin price: $${medianPrice.toFixed(2)}`)

// The source code MUST return a Buffer or the request will return an error message
// Use one of the following functions to convert to a Buffer representing the response bytes that are returned to the client smart contract:
// - Functions.encodeUint256
// - Functions.encodeInt256
// - Functions.encodeString
// Or return a custom Buffer for a custom byte encoding
return Functions.encodeUint256(Math.round(medianPrice * 100))  
```

This function just fetches the price of bitcoin. Could I use a Chainlink function to download a file from IPFS? If so, what would it look like?

Accepted Answer

IPFS provides HTTP endpoint allowing to retrieve content with [GET request](https://docs.ipfs.tech/reference/http/gateway/#api):

```
GET /ipfs/{cid}[/{path}][?{params}]
```

`Functions.makeHttpRequest` should work for getting content from IPFS.

```
const fileCid = 'QmcfhgdUN7knC5JSkjpGtGSdQz4xdGyxNgfp8hUqKbyysc';
const fileUrl = `https://ipfs.io/ipfs/${fileCid}`;

const ipfsRequest = Functions.makeHttpRequest({
  url: fileUrl,
});

const fileContent = await ipfsRequest;
```

Can I use a Chainlink Function to dowload a file?

Answers 1