Re: Long url parameter in GET request locks python

On 30/01/13 16:38, Shawn H wrote:

I posted this question yesterdat at stack overflow, but I'm wondering if this is a bug.  I have a url that accepts one text parameter, allows spaces, and calls a very simple view that checks if there are objects with a project name that matches the text parameter value. The view returns a simple json string indicating whether there's a project with that name already in the database.  It works great, repeatedly, with short parameter values.  It locks up python on certain long string values.  I've tested up to 50 characters, and just length doesn't trigger it.  What does seem to repeatedly trigger it are long strings with multiple spaces.  I've tested my url regex matching and those long strings match just fine; my concern is that for some reason inside the view that long string is causing problems.  I'm using Django 1.4 with the built in webserver for testing.  Any help that can be provided will be greatly appreciated. --
 

Hi Shawn,

I've answered your question on Stack Overflow, but I'll post it here as well:

Since you are going to check whether `aProjectName` already exists in the database, there's no need for you to make the regex so complicated.

I suggest you simplify the regex to

    url(r'^chargeback/checkDuplicateProject/(?P<aProjectName>[\w+\s-]*)/$', 'chargeback.views.isProjectDuplicate'),

For a further explanation, see the question "url regex keeps django busy/crashing" [1] from the django-users group.

[1]: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/django-users/Bxq9i0mttSc/DEz7S7M8lxAJ

Cheers,
Alasdair

--   Alasdair Nicol  Developer, MEMSET    mail: alasdair@memset.com    web: http://www.memset.com/     Memset Ltd., registration number 4504980. 25 Frederick Sanger Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7YD, UK.