How to build a public Any.do integration: Building the Auth Flow

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Any.do integrations? Let's roll up our sleeves and build an auth flow that'll make your users feel like VIPs at a digital nightclub. 🕺💃

Introduction

Any.do's API is your ticket to productivity paradise, but before we can start crossing tasks off lists, we need to get our auth game on point. Why? Because nobody likes uninvited guests at their task party. Let's make sure we're doing this right and keeping our users' data locked down tighter than a drummer's timing.

Prerequisites

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

• An Any.do Developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it – I'll wait)
• A solid grasp on OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory)
• Node.js and your favorite web framework (Express, anyone?)

Got all that? Awesome! Let's get this show on the road.

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our project off the ground:

mkdir anydo-integration && cd anydo-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Registering your application

Head over to the Any.do Developer Console and create your app. It's like registering your band, but instead of groupies, you get a client ID and client secret. Keep these safe – they're the backstage passes to your integration.

Implementing the authorization flow

Initiating the auth request

Time to construct our authorization URL. It's like crafting the perfect pick-up line, but for APIs:

const authUrl = `https://sm-prod2.any.do/oauth/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&response_type=code&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(redirectUri)}`;

Now, when your user's ready to party, redirect them to this URL.

Handling the callback

Set up your redirect URI endpoint. This is where Any.do will drop off your user after they've granted permission:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // We'll use this code in the next step
});

Exchanging the code for access token

Now for the grand finale – turning that code into an access token:

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://sm-prod2.any.do/oauth/token', {
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code,
  client_id: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
  client_secret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET,
  redirect_uri: redirectUri
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;

Store these tokens somewhere safe. They're like the keys to your user's productivity kingdom.

Refreshing the access token

Access tokens don't last forever (wouldn't that be nice?). When they expire, it's time for a quick refresh:

const refreshTokenResponse = await axios.post('https://sm-prod2.any.do/oauth/token', {
  grant_type: 'refresh_token',
  refresh_token: storedRefreshToken,
  client_id: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
  client_secret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET
});

Making authenticated requests

Now you're ready to rock! Here's how to fetch your user's tasks:

const tasks = await axios.get('https://sm-prod2.any.do/me/tasks', {
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
});

Error handling and edge cases

Always be prepared for the unexpected. Handle those pesky errors like a pro:

try {
  // Your awesome code here
} catch (error) {
  if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
    // Time to refresh that token!
  } else {
    // Handle other errors
  }
}

Security considerations

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility:

• Keep your client secret secret (say that five times fast)
• Always use HTTPS – it's not the 90s anymore
• Implement PKCE if Any.do supports it (check their docs)

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built an auth flow that would make even the most seasoned developers nod in approval. Your Any.do integration is now ready to take on the world of tasks and to-dos.

What's next? Sky's the limit! Start building out those features, and before you know it, you'll have users organizing their lives like never before.

Now go forth and integrate, you magnificent code wizard! 🧙‍♂️✨