Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs
Configure the HttpClient for production use.
Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs is a free Kotlin Multiplatform Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Kotlin Multiplatform Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Configure for Production
A real client needs configuration: timeouts so it never hangs, logging to debug, and a base URL to stay tidy.
Install Features as Plugins
You add behavior to the client using plugins, configured in the HttpClient builder block once for all requests.
val client = HttpClient { /* install plugins */ }Set Request Timeouts
Install the HttpTimeout plugin so a slow server fails fast instead of freezing your app forever.
install(HttpTimeout) { requestTimeoutMillis = 15000 }Connect and Socket Timeouts
The same plugin also sets a connectTimeoutMillis, capping how long Ktor waits to even reach the server.
connectTimeoutMillis = 10000Add Logging
The Logging plugin prints requests and responses, which is invaluable while debugging shared network code.
install(Logging) { level = LogLevel.BODY }Tune the Log Level
Pick a LogLevel like HEADERS or INFO to control noise, keeping verbose BODY logs out of release builds.
level = LogLevel.HEADERSSet a Base URL
Use defaultRequest to define a base URL once, so each call only needs the path that follows it.
install(DefaultRequest) { url("https://api.example.com") }Calls Get Shorter
With a base URL set, your requests pass only the relative path, which keeps shared code clean and DRY.
client.get("/users")Default Headers Too
defaultRequest can also attach shared headers, like a common API key, to every outgoing request automatically.
header("X-Api-Key", apiKey)Configure Once, Reuse
Set all this up a single time when you build the client, then reuse that one instance across the whole app.
Ship With Confidence
Timeouts, logging and a base URL turn a toy client into a production-ready one that behaves well on both platforms. 🙂
Quick Check
Which plugin stops a request from hanging forever?
Recap
Install HttpTimeout, Logging and DefaultRequest once in the client builder to add safety, visibility and a clean base URL for every call.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs” is free to read here on the web, and the Kotlin Multiplatform Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Kotlin Multiplatform Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs”?
Configure the HttpClient for production use. You practise Kotlin Multiplatform Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Kotlin Multiplatform Academy?
No prior experience is required. Kotlin Multiplatform Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Kotlin Multiplatform Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Kotlin Multiplatform Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Add Ktor & Pick Platform Engines
- Your First GET Request
- POST, Headers & Query Params
- Timeouts, Logging & Base URLs