Meteor fetch server-side job without collection - rest

Question

I want to submit a request from my Meteor client to the server, that has the server make an HTTP request to a website, and then return the response to the client.
On a REST web server, I would make an HTTP GET from the client to the server, which would then make its own request and respond to the client.
I haven't added a REST interface to my Meteor app and don't want to add this overhead for just this one need. However, using collections to get this done is unweildy and not the right tool.
Is there any way for the Meteor client to securely ask the server to do something and get a response without using collections? I'm messing with meteor Methods such as:
Meteor.methods({
'/http/get'(name, cbk) {
cbk = cbk || function() {};
HTTP.get('http://www.google.com', {}, (err, data) => {
cbk(err, data);
});
},
});
However this isn't seeming to work. The call is being made on the Client side.

Answer 1

This is exactly what Meteor methods are for.
Meteor methods docs
Server
First define your method on your server:
Meteor.methods({
// Namespace for clarity
'make.rest_call'(callback) {
HTTP.get('http://www.google.com', {}, (err, data) => {
callback(err, data);
});
}
});
OR
If you need the client to do something with the data then return a promise here (promise docs)
Meteor.methods({
// Namespace for clarity
'make.rest_call'(callback) {
return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
HTTP.get('http://www.google.com', {}, (err, data) => {
if (err) { reject(err); }
resolve(data);
});
}
}
});
Client
Then call it from your client:
// Simple call (just makes the call, does nothing on the client)
Meteor.call('make.rest_call');
OR
// Promise based call
Meteor.call('make.rest_call', (error, result) => {
if (error) { /* do something with error */ }
// result contains your promise.
result.then((data) => {
// do something with returned data
});
});