Getting 500 server error when trying to post via API

Yesterday an attempt to add a post via the API gave a 500 Server Error.

The post was:

{
  "title": "Leaflet orgoniser Needed! [Basecamp 1447568903]",
  "category": 166,
  "raw": "Steve wrote in Basecamp\r\n\nSomeone 2 orgonise LEAFLETS for Saterday!!  \n   \n Im too bisy painting banners and placards, so if someone else can take  \n on board getting the flyers printed, that be ACE!  \n   \n Printable A5 leaflets here: [https://we.tl/t-kUFEkfDyqB](https://we.tl/t-kUFEkfDyqB) Probably the  \n general is best.   \n Another leaflet here:  \n [https://3.basecamp.com/3559494/buckets/8533540/vaults/1210274236](https://3.basecamp.com/3559494/buckets/8533540/vaults/1210274236)  \n There are more flyers and leaflets here:  \n [https://3.basecamp.com/3559494/buckets/8533540/vaults/1210092576](https://3.basecamp.com/3559494/buckets/8533540/vaults/1210092576)  \n   \n   \n If you don’t have a local printer [www.solopress.com](http://www.solopress.com) is good and cheap   \n   \n We do have access 2 an A4 black and white printer, but the  \n leaflets/posters available 2 copy are all in colour, so need converting  \n first….  \n …Laura is doing some of this, but if anyone else would like 2 help aswell thatd be ACE!  \n   \n Cheers!  \n   \n And if anyone comes to paint banners, Ile b upstairs in the big barn on  \n yor left as you walk up the farm yard. West town farm EX2 9TG  \n Ring the bell outside the farm shop, if u cant find me!\n",
  "api_username": "",
  "created_at": "2018-11-28T15:18:05.655Z"
}

The error was

ArgumentError (argument out of range) /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/values/time_zone.rb:548:in `initialize'

And the stack trace was:

/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/values/time_zone.rb:548:in `initialize'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/values/time_zone.rb:548:in `new'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/values/time_zone.rb:548:in `parts_to_time'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/values/time_zone.rb:421:in `parse'
/var/www/discourse/lib/topic_creator.rb:120:in `setup_topic_params'
/var/www/discourse/lib/topic_creator.rb:21:in `valid?'
/var/www/discourse/lib/has_errors.rb:14:in `validate_child'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:135:in `valid?'
/var/www/discourse/lib/post_creator.rb:166:in `create'
/var/www/discourse/lib/new_post_manager.rb:265:in `perform_create_post'
/var/www/discourse/lib/new_post_manager.rb:203:in `perform'
/var/www/discourse/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb:172:in `block in create'
/var/www/discourse/lib/distributed_memoizer.rb:30:in `memoize'
/var/www/discourse/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb:171:in `create'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal/basic_implicit_render.rb:6:in `send_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:196:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal/rendering.rb:30:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:42:in `block in process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:135:in `run_callbacks'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:41:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal/rescue.rb:22:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:33:in `block in process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/notifications.rb:180:in `block in instrument'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:24:in `instrument'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/notifications.rb:180:in `instrument'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:32:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal/params_wrapper.rb:245:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activerecord-6.0.0/lib/active_record/railties/controller_runtime.rb:27:in `process_action'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:136:in `process'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionview-6.0.0/lib/action_view/rendering.rb:39:in `process'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-mini-profiler-1.1.2/lib/mini_profiler/profiling_methods.rb:78:in `block in profile_method'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal.rb:191:in `dispatch'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_controller/metal.rb:252:in `dispatch'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:51:in `dispatch'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:33:in `serve'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:49:in `block in serve'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:837:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-protection-2.0.7/lib/rack/protection/frame_options.rb:31:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/omniauth_bypass_middleware.rb:68:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/tempfile_reaper.rb:15:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/conditional_get.rb:38:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/head.rb:12:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/content_security_policy/middleware.rb:12:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/anonymous_cache.rb:274:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:232:in `context'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:226:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/cookies.rb:648:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:27:in `block in call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.0/lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:101:in `run_callbacks'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:26:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/actionable_exceptions.rb:17:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:32:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:33:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/logster-2.4.1/lib/logster/middleware/reporter.rb:43:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/railties-6.0.0/lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:38:in `call_app'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/railties-6.0.0/lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:28:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/config/initializers/100-quiet_logger.rb:18:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/config/initializers/100-silence_logger.rb:31:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:81:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:27:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/enforce_hostname.rb:17:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/method_override.rb:22:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/executor.rb:14:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/sendfile.rb:111:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/actionpack-6.0.0/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/host_authorization.rb:77:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-mini-profiler-1.1.2/lib/mini_profiler/profiler.rb:184:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/message_bus-2.2.3/lib/message_bus/rack/middleware.rb:57:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/lib/middleware/request_tracker.rb:176:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/railties-6.0.0/lib/rails/engine.rb:526:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/railties-6.0.0/lib/rails/railtie.rb:190:in `public_send'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/railties-6.0.0/lib/rails/railtie.rb:190:in `method_missing'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:68:in `block in call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:53:in `each'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/rack-2.0.7/lib/rack/urlmap.rb:53:in `call'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/unicorn-5.5.1/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:605:in `process_client'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/unicorn-5.5.1/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:700:in `worker_loop'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/unicorn-5.5.1/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:548:in `spawn_missing_workers'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/unicorn-5.5.1/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:562:in `maintain_worker_count'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/unicorn-5.5.1/lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:295:in `join'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/gems/unicorn-5.5.1/bin/unicorn:128:in `<top (required)>'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `load'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.6.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `<main>'

Can anyone help me find out why this happened? The exact same post to my test Discourse went OK.

1 Like

That suggests the created_at date was invalid. However, the post you shared above does seem to have a valid date. Is that the exact payload you sent to the server to cause the error?

If the issue is not happening on your testing server, what’s the difference? Are they both installed using our standard self-hosting guide?

3 Likes

Thanks for your help.

I investigated more thoroughly the format the date was being sent in, and the code that displayed the data being sent in the debug log was slightly different to the code that was converting the date for inclusion in the post parameters, and it was sending a C# format date rather than a json format one.

Now fixed, and appears to be working.

No idea why it worked on my test server!