Step by Step Guide to Building a Bloomerang API Integration in Ruby

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Bloomerang API integration with Ruby? Let's get cracking!

Introduction

Bloomerang's API is a powerful tool for nonprofits, and we're about to harness that power with Ruby. This guide will walk you through creating a sleek, efficient integration that'll make your nonprofit data sing.

Prerequisites

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

• Ruby 2.7+ installed
• The httparty and json gems
• Your Bloomerang API credentials (if you don't have them, go grab 'em!)

Setting up the project

Let's kick things off:

mkdir bloomerang_integration
cd bloomerang_integration
bundle init

Now, add this to your Gemfile:

gem 'httparty'
gem 'json'

Run bundle install, and we're off to the races!

Authentication

Bloomerang uses API key authentication. Here's how to set it up:

require 'httparty'

class BloomerangAPI
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.bloomerang.co/v2'

  def initialize(api_key)
    @options = { headers: { 'X-API-Key' => api_key } }
  end
end

Making API requests

Now, let's add some methods to our class:

def get_constituents
  self.class.get('/constituents', @options)
end

def create_constituent(data)
  self.class.post('/constituents', @options.merge(body: data.to_json))
end

Core Bloomerang API endpoints

We've covered constituents, but don't forget about transactions, interactions, and campaigns. Add methods for these as needed.

Error handling and rate limiting

Let's add some robustness:

def make_request(method, endpoint, data = nil)
  retries = 0
  begin
    response = self.class.send(method, endpoint, @options.merge(body: data&.to_json))
    raise "API Error: #{response.code}" unless response.success?
    response
  rescue => e
    retries += 1
    if retries < 3
      sleep(2 ** retries)
      retry
    else
      raise e
    end
  end
end

Data parsing and manipulation

JSON is your friend here. Use JSON.parse(response.body) to work with the data.

Building a simple wrapper class

Let's wrap it all up nicely:

class BloomerangClient
  def initialize(api_key)
    @api = BloomerangAPI.new(api_key)
  end

  def get_constituent(id)
    @api.make_request(:get, "/constituents/#{id}")
  end

  # Add more methods as needed
end

Testing the integration

Don't forget to test! Here's a simple RSpec example:

RSpec.describe BloomerangClient do
  let(:client) { BloomerangClient.new('fake_api_key') }

  it 'fetches a constituent' do
    VCR.use_cassette('constituent') do
      response = client.get_constituent(123)
      expect(response['id']).to eq(123)
    end
  end
end

Best practices and optimization

• Cache frequently accessed data
• Use batch operations when possible
• Keep an eye on your API usage to stay within limits

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a robust Bloomerang API integration in Ruby. Remember, this is just the beginning - there's so much more you can do with this API. Keep exploring, keep coding, and most importantly, keep making a difference for those nonprofits!

Happy coding, and may your integration be ever bug-free!