Reading and Writing Data Using the Better Proposals API

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiasts! Ready to dive into the world of Better Proposals API? Let's get our hands dirty with some code and learn how to sync data for a user-facing integration. Buckle up!

Introduction

Better Proposals API is your ticket to seamlessly integrating proposal management into your applications. Whether you're building a CRM system or a project management tool, this API has got your back. We'll focus on syncing data to keep your app and Better Proposals in perfect harmony.

Authentication

First things first, let's get you authenticated. Head over to your Better Proposals account and grab your API credentials. It's like getting the keys to a shiny new car!

Here's how you can implement authentication in JavaScript:

const axios = require('axios');

const API_KEY = 'your_api_key_here';
const API_SECRET = 'your_api_secret_here';

const api = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.betterproposals.io/v1',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Basic ${Buffer.from(`${API_KEY}:${API_SECRET}`).toString('base64')}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

Reading Data

Now that we're in, let's fetch some proposals. It's like fishing, but instead of fish, we're catching data!

async function getProposals() {
  try {
    const response = await api.get('/proposals');
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching proposals:', error);
  }
}

Want details on a specific proposal? We've got you covered:

async function getProposalDetails(proposalId) {
  try {
    const response = await api.get(`/proposals/${proposalId}`);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`Error fetching proposal ${proposalId}:`, error);
  }
}

Writing Data

Time to flex those creative muscles and create some proposals:

async function createProposal(proposalData) {
  try {
    const response = await api.post('/proposals', proposalData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating proposal:', error);
    if (error.response && error.response.data) {
      console.error('Validation errors:', error.response.data);
    }
  }
}

Updating is just as easy:

async function updateProposal(proposalId, updateData) {
  try {
    const response = await api.put(`/proposals/${proposalId}`, updateData);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`Error updating proposal ${proposalId}:`, error);
  }
}

Syncing Data

Syncing data is like conducting an orchestra - everything needs to be in harmony. Here's a simple sync strategy:

async function syncProposals() {
  const localProposals = await getLocalProposals(); // Your local data retrieval function
  const remoteProposals = await getProposals();

  for (const remoteProposal of remoteProposals) {
    const localProposal = localProposals.find(p => p.id === remoteProposal.id);
    if (!localProposal) {
      await createLocalProposal(remoteProposal);
    } else if (remoteProposal.updatedAt > localProposal.updatedAt) {
      await updateLocalProposal(remoteProposal);
    }
  }
}

Webhooks

Webhooks are like having a personal assistant that taps you on the shoulder whenever something important happens. Here's how to handle them:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.post('/webhook', express.json(), (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  console.log('Received webhook:', event);

  // Handle the event based on its type
  switch (event.type) {
    case 'proposal.created':
      handleNewProposal(event.data);
      break;
    case 'proposal.updated':
      handleUpdatedProposal(event.data);
      break;
    // Add more cases as needed
  }

  res.sendStatus(200);
});

Error Handling and Logging

Don't let errors rain on your parade. Catch them with style:

function handleApiError(error) {
  if (error.response) {
    console.error('API Error:', error.response.status, error.response.data);
  } else if (error.request) {
    console.error('Network Error:', error.message);
  } else {
    console.error('Error:', error.message);
  }
}

Best Practices

1. Rate Limiting: Be a good API citizen. Implement exponential backoff for retries.
2. Caching: Cache frequently accessed data to reduce API calls and improve performance.
3. Security: Keep your API credentials secret. Use environment variables in production.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to read, write, and sync data like a pro using the Better Proposals API. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries of what you can create.

Happy coding, and may your proposals always be better! 🚀📊