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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Clio API integration? You're in for a treat. Clio's API is a powerhouse for law practice management, and we're going to harness that power using Ruby. We'll be using the clio gem, which makes our lives a whole lot easier. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• A Ruby environment set up (I know you've got this!)
• Clio API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to Clio's developer portal)

Installation

First things first, let's get that clio gem installed:

gem install clio

Easy peasy, right?

Authentication

Now, let's get you authenticated. Grab your API key and secret, and let's initialize that Clio client:

require 'clio'

client = Clio::Client.new(
  client_id: 'your_client_id',
  client_secret: 'your_client_secret'
)

Boom! You're in.

Basic API Requests

Let's flex those API muscles with some basic requests:

Fetching Data

matters = client.matters.list
contacts = client.contacts.list

Creating Records

new_contact = client.contacts.create(
  first_name: 'John',
  last_name: 'Doe',
  email: '[email protected]'
)

Updating Records

updated_contact = client.contacts.update(
  id: contact_id,
  phone_number: '555-1234'
)

Deleting Records

client.contacts.delete(id: contact_id)

Advanced Features

Pagination

Clio's got your back with pagination. Here's how to use it:

all_matters = []
page = 1

loop do
  response = client.matters.list(page: page)
  all_matters.concat(response.data)
  break if response.metadata.page >= response.metadata.pages
  page += 1
end

Error Handling

Don't let errors catch you off guard:

begin
  client.matters.get(id: 'non_existent_id')
rescue Clio::NotFound => e
  puts "Oops! Matter not found: #{e.message}"
end

Rate Limiting

Be nice to the API. Implement some basic rate limiting:

require 'thread'

RATE_LIMIT = 2 # requests per second
semaphore = Mutex.new
last_request_time = Time.now

def rate_limited_request
  semaphore.synchronize do
    current_time = Time.now
    if current_time - last_request_time < (1.0 / RATE_LIMIT)
      sleep((1.0 / RATE_LIMIT) - (current_time - last_request_time))
    end
    last_request_time = Time.now
    yield
  end
end

Best Practices

• Keep those API credentials safe! Use environment variables or a secure secret management system.
• Optimize your API calls. Batch requests when possible and only fetch the data you need.

Example Use Case: Syncing Contacts

Let's put it all together with a simple contact sync:

def sync_contacts(client, external_contacts)
  external_contacts.each do |ext_contact|
    clio_contact = client.contacts.list(query: ext_contact[:email]).first

    if clio_contact
      client.contacts.update(
        id: clio_contact.id,
        first_name: ext_contact[:first_name],
        last_name: ext_contact[:last_name]
      )
    else
      client.contacts.create(
        first_name: ext_contact[:first_name],
        last_name: ext_contact[:last_name],
        email: ext_contact[:email]
      )
    end
  end
end

Testing

Don't forget to test your integration! Here's a quick RSpec example:

RSpec.describe 'Clio API Integration' do
  let(:client) { Clio::Client.new(client_id: 'test', client_secret: 'test') }

  it 'fetches contacts' do
    VCR.use_cassette('contacts_list') do
      contacts = client.contacts.list
      expect(contacts).to be_an(Array)
      expect(contacts.first).to respond_to(:first_name)
    end
  end
end

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now armed and ready to build some awesome Clio integrations with Ruby. Remember, the Clio API documentation is your friend for more advanced features. Now go forth and code, you magnificent developer, you!