How to build a public 123FormBuilder integration: Building the Auth Flow

Introduction

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of 123FormBuilder integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow.

123FormBuilder is a powerful tool for creating and managing online forms, and by integrating it into your app, you're opening up a world of possibilities. But before we can start playing with forms, we need to make sure our users can securely connect their 123FormBuilder accounts. That's where OAuth 2.0 comes in!

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

• 123FormBuilder API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to their developer portal and grab 'em)
• A Node.js environment set up with Express.js (I'm assuming you're comfortable with these, but if not, there are plenty of great tutorials out there)

Got everything? Great! Let's get started.

OAuth 2.0 Flow Overview

We'll be using the Authorization Code Grant type of OAuth 2.0. It's like a secret handshake between your app and 123FormBuilder, ensuring that only authorized users can access their data.

The key players in this dance are:

• Client ID: Your app's unique identifier
• Client Secret: Your app's password (keep this safe!)
• Redirect URI: Where 123FormBuilder will send the user after they've authorized your app

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Setting up the authorization request

First things first, we need to construct the authorization URL and send our user on a little trip to 123FormBuilder's authorization page. Here's how:

const authUrl = `https://www.123formbuilder.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}&response_type=code`;

res.redirect(authUrl);

Handling the callback

Once the user gives your app the thumbs up, 123FormBuilder will redirect them back to your specified redirect URI with an authorization code. Time to exchange that code for an access token!

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  
  const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://www.123formbuilder.com/oauth2/token', {
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
    code,
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    redirect_uri: redirectUri
  });

  const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
  
  // Store these tokens securely!
  // ...

  res.send('Authorization successful!');
});

Refreshing the access token

Access tokens don't last forever, so we need to be ready to refresh them. Here's a simple way to check and refresh:

async function getValidAccessToken() {
  if (isTokenExpired(accessToken)) {
    const refreshResponse = await axios.post('https://www.123formbuilder.com/oauth2/token', {
      grant_type: 'refresh_token',
      refresh_token: refreshToken,
      client_id: clientId,
      client_secret: clientSecret
    });

    // Update stored tokens
    // ...

    return refreshResponse.data.access_token;
  }
  return accessToken;
}

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that we've got our access token, let's use it to make some API requests:

async function getForms() {
  const token = await getValidAccessToken();
  const response = await axios.get('https://api.123formbuilder.com/v2/forms', {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` }
  });
  return response.data;
}

Best Practices

1. Secure storage: Never store tokens in plain text. Use encryption or a secure key management system.
2. Error handling: Always be prepared for things to go wrong. Implement proper error handling and provide clear feedback to your users.
3. Logout functionality: Don't forget to implement a way for users to disconnect their 123FormBuilder account from your app.

Testing the Integration

Before you release your integration into the wild, make sure to thoroughly test it. Set up a test environment that simulates the entire authorization flow. Try to break it – it's better if you find the bugs before your users do!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built the authorization flow for your 123FormBuilder integration. Pretty cool, right?

Remember, this is just the beginning. With this foundation, you can now start exploring all the amazing things you can do with the 123FormBuilder API. Forms, submissions, webhooks – the world is your oyster!

Keep coding, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun building awesome integrations!