Using cURL for API automation in Karate - api

Question

I'm new to Karate
I'm automating an API test where I need to upload a large file >50MB
When I do so with Karate I get an error "Broken Pipe" and according to this question
Broken pipe (Write failed) when testing > max allowed Content-Length I could use "cURL" for this request.
It's working fine as follows (with hardcoded data):
* def result = karate.exec('curl -L -X POST "URL" -H "Authorization: Bearer MYTOKEN" -F "file=#"PATH""')
However, I'm having issues with the syntax when passing variables
I need to pass the URL, token, and path as variables and not hardcoded text since I will be reusing this test for multiple landscapes.
How would I go about it?
Thanks,

Answer 1

Think of the Karate syntax as very close to JavaScript. So, string concatenation works. For example:
* def myUrl = 'https://httpbin.org/anything'
* def result = karate.exec('curl ' + myUrl)
And a nice thing is that JavaScript Template Literals work:
* def myUrl = 'https://httpbin.org/anything'
* def result = karate.exec(`curl ${myUrl}`)
Also note that the karate.exec() API takes an array of command-line arguments. This can make some things easier like not having to put quotes around arguments with white-space included etc.
* def myUrl = 'https://httpbin.org/anything'
* def result = karate.exec({ args: [ 'curl', myUrl ] })
You can build the arguments array as a second step for convenience:
* def myUrl = 'https://httpbin.org/anything'
* def args = ['curl']
* args.push(myUrl)
* def result = karate.exec({ args: args })
Note that conditional logic and even an if statement is possible in Karate: https://stackoverflow.com/a/50350442/143475
Also see: https://stackoverflow.com/a/62911366/143475