How to build a public Demio integration: Building the Auth Flow

Aug 15, 2024 • 8 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Demio integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial parts of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration secure and user-friendly in no time!

Introduction

Demio is a powerful webinar platform, and integrating it into your app can open up a world of possibilities. But before we can start playing with all the cool features, we need to set up a rock-solid authorization flow. This is how we'll ensure that your users can securely connect their Demio accounts to your app. Trust me, it's not as daunting as it sounds!

Prerequisites

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

Demio API credentials (if you don't have these yet, hop over to Demio's developer portal)
A Node.js and Express.js setup (I know you've got this!)
A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0 (don't worry if you're a bit rusty, we'll cover the essentials)

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our project set up:

mkdir demio-integration
cd demio-integration
npm init -y
npm install express axios dotenv

Great! Now we've got the basics in place.

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Step 1: Create the authorization URL

Let's start by creating a route that will redirect users to Demio's authorization page:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
require('dotenv').config();

app.get('/auth', (req, res) => {
  const authUrl = `https://my.demio.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${process.env.DEMIO_CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(process.env.REDIRECT_URI)}&response_type=code`;
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Step 2: Handle the callback

Now, let's set up a route to handle the callback from Demio:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  if (!code) {
    return res.status(400).send('Authorization denied');
  }
  // We'll use this code in the next step
});

Step 3: Exchange the code for an access token

Time to get that sweet, sweet access token:

const axios = require('axios');

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  if (!code) {
    return res.status(400).send('Authorization denied');
  }

  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://my.demio.com/oauth/token', {
      client_id: process.env.DEMIO_CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: process.env.DEMIO_CLIENT_SECRET,
      code,
      grant_type: 'authorization_code',
      redirect_uri: process.env.REDIRECT_URI
    });

    const { access_token, refresh_token } = response.data;
    // Store these tokens securely (more on this later)
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error exchanging code for token:', error);
    res.status(500).send('An error occurred during authorization');
  }
});

Step 4: Refresh the access token

Don't forget to implement token refreshing to keep your integration running smoothly:

async function refreshToken(refresh_token) {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://my.demio.com/oauth/token', {
      client_id: process.env.DEMIO_CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: process.env.DEMIO_CLIENT_SECRET,
      refresh_token,
      grant_type: 'refresh_token'
    });

    return response.data.access_token;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error refreshing token:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Securing the Integration

Security is key, folks! Here are some tips to keep your integration tight:

Use environment variables for sensitive info (you're already doing this, nice job!)
Implement CSRF protection
Always use HTTPS

Here's a quick example of adding CSRF protection:

const csrf = require('csurf');
const csrfProtection = csrf({ cookie: true });

app.use(csrfProtection);

app.get('/auth', csrfProtection, (req, res) => {
  const authUrl = `https://my.demio.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${process.env.DEMIO_CLIENT_ID}&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(process.env.REDIRECT_URI)}&response_type=code&state=${req.csrfToken()}`;
  res.redirect(authUrl);
});

Testing the Authorization Flow

Now that we've built our flow, it's time to test it out! Here's a quick checklist:

Start your server and navigate to your /auth endpoint
Ensure you're redirected to Demio's authorization page
Authorize the app and check if you're redirected back to your callback URL
Verify that you receive and can store the access token

Consider setting up some automated tests to make your life easier in the long run!

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Always be prepared for the unexpected! Here are some common issues to watch out for:

Rate limiting: Implement exponential backoff for retries
Network timeouts: Set appropriate timeout values for your requests
Invalid tokens: Automatically refresh when you encounter 401 errors

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a secure authorization flow for your Demio integration. Pat yourself on the back – you're well on your way to creating an awesome integration that your users will love.

Remember, this is just the beginning. Now that you've got the auth flow down, the sky's the limit for what you can do with the Demio API. Go forth and build amazing things!

Additional Resources

Happy coding, and may your integration be ever awesome! 🚀