Step by Step Guide to Building a bexio API Integration in JS

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of bexio API integration? You're in for a treat. The bexio API is a powerful tool that'll let you tap into a wealth of business management features. In this guide, we'll walk through creating a robust integration that'll make your app sing in harmony with bexio. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• Node.js and npm (you're probably nodding already)
• bexio API credentials (if you don't have 'em, hop over to the bexio developer portal)
• Your favorite code editor

Setting up the project

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

mkdir bexio-integration
cd bexio-integration
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Create a .env file for your secrets:

BEXIO_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id
BEXIO_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret
BEXIO_REDIRECT_URI=http://localhost:3000/callback

Authentication

Alright, time to make friends with the bexio API. We'll be using OAuth 2.0, so buckle up:

const axios = require('axios');
require('dotenv').config();

const getAuthUrl = () => {
  return `https://office.bexio.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${process.env.BEXIO_CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${process.env.BEXIO_REDIRECT_URI}&state=somestate`;
};

const getAccessToken = async (code) => {
  const response = await axios.post('https://office.bexio.com/oauth/access_token', {
    client_id: process.env.BEXIO_CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: process.env.BEXIO_CLIENT_SECRET,
    redirect_uri: process.env.BEXIO_REDIRECT_URI,
    code: code,
  });
  return response.data.access_token;
};

Making API requests

Now that we're authenticated, let's chat with the API:

const makeApiRequest = async (endpoint, method = 'GET', data = null) => {
  const response = await axios({
    method,
    url: `https://api.bexio.com/2.0/${endpoint}`,
    headers: {
      'Accept': 'application/json',
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${accessToken}`,
    },
    data,
  });
  return response.data;
};

Core functionality implementation

Time to put our API skills to work. Let's fetch some contacts:

const getContacts = async () => {
  return await makeApiRequest('contact');
};

const createInvoice = async (invoiceData) => {
  return await makeApiRequest('kb_invoice', 'POST', invoiceData);
};

Pro tip: Don't forget about pagination. The bexio API uses offset-based pagination, so keep an eye on those limit and offset parameters.

Error handling and logging

Let's not leave our future selves in the dark. Robust error handling is key:

const makeApiRequest = async (endpoint, method = 'GET', data = null) => {
  try {
    const response = await axios({
      // ... (previous code)
    });
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`API request failed: ${error.message}`);
    if (error.response) {
      console.error(`Status: ${error.response.status}`);
      console.error(`Data: ${JSON.stringify(error.response.data)}`);
    }
    throw error;
  }
};

Testing

You know the drill - test, test, and test again. Here's a quick example using Jest:

test('getContacts returns an array', async () => {
  const contacts = await getContacts();
  expect(Array.isArray(contacts)).toBe(true);
});

Best practices

A few golden rules to keep in mind:

1. Respect rate limits - bexio's not a fan of spam.
2. Cache when you can - your app will thank you for the speed boost.
3. Keep your secrets secret - never commit that .env file!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your bexio API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning - there's a whole world of bexio features waiting for you to explore.

Keep experimenting, keep building, and most importantly, keep having fun with it. Happy coding!