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

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of email marketing automation? Let's build a ConvertKit API integration that'll make your subscribers swoon. Buckle up, because we're about to embark on a code-filled adventure!

Prerequisites

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

• Ruby 2.7+ (because we're not savages)
• A ConvertKit account with an API key (if you don't have one, go grab it from your account settings)
• Your favorite code editor (VS Code, Vim, or even Notepad++ if you're feeling nostalgic)

Setting Up the Project

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

mkdir convertkit_integration
cd convertkit_integration
bundle init

Now, crack open that Gemfile and add these gems:

gem 'httparty'
gem 'dotenv'

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

Authentication

Create a .env file in your project root (and don't forget to add it to .gitignore!):

CONVERTKIT_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Now, let's create a ConvertKit client:

require 'httparty'
require 'dotenv/load'

class ConvertKitClient
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.convertkit.com/v3'

  def initialize
    @options = { query: { api_key: ENV['CONVERTKIT_API_KEY'] } }
  end

  # We'll add more methods here soon!
end

Basic API Operations

Let's add some methods to our ConvertKitClient class:

def fetch_subscribers
  self.class.get('/subscribers', @options)
end

def create_subscriber(email, first_name = nil)
  self.class.post('/subscribers', @options.merge(
    body: { email: email, first_name: first_name }
  ))
end

def update_subscriber(subscriber_id, data)
  self.class.put("/subscribers/#{subscriber_id}", @options.merge(body: data))
end

Advanced Operations

Time to level up! Let's add some tag management and broadcast creation:

def add_tag_to_subscriber(subscriber_id, tag_id)
  self.class.post("/subscribers/#{subscriber_id}/tags", @options.merge(
    body: { tag: tag_id }
  ))
end

def create_broadcast(subject, content)
  self.class.post('/broadcasts', @options.merge(
    body: { subject: subject, content: content }
  ))
end

Error Handling and Rate Limiting

Let's add some retry logic and respect those rate limits:

def with_retry(max_retries = 3)
  retries = 0
  begin
    yield
  rescue StandardError => e
    retries += 1
    if retries <= max_retries
      sleep(2 ** retries)
      retry
    else
      raise e
    end
  end
end

Now, wrap your API calls with this method:

def fetch_subscribers
  with_retry { self.class.get('/subscribers', @options) }
end

Testing the Integration

Let's write a quick test to make sure everything's working:

require 'minitest/autorun'
require_relative 'convertkit_client'

class ConvertKitClientTest < Minitest::Test
  def setup
    @client = ConvertKitClient.new
  end

  def test_fetch_subscribers
    response = @client.fetch_subscribers
    assert_equal 200, response.code
  end
end

Best Practices

1. Always use environment variables for API keys.
2. Implement pagination for large data sets.
3. Use webhooks for real-time updates instead of polling the API.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it! You've just built a ConvertKit API integration in Ruby. Pretty slick, right? Remember, this is just the beginning. There's a whole world of email marketing automation waiting for you to explore.

Want to take it further? Check out ConvertKit's official API docs for more endpoints and features. Happy coding, and may your open rates be ever in your favor!