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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow code wrangler! Ready to dive into the world of DocSend API integration? You're in for a treat. We're going to walk through building a robust integration that'll have you managing documents like a pro. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• A DocSend account with an API key (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
• Node.js and npm installed on your machine
• A good grasp of JavaScript and REST APIs (but you knew that already, right?)

Setting up the project

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

mkdir docsend-integration && cd docsend-integration
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Authentication

Security first! Let's keep that API key safe:

1. Create a .env file in your project root:

DOCSEND_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

2. Now, let's create an authenticated client:

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

const client = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.docsend.com/v1',
  headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.DOCSEND_API_KEY}` }
});

Core API Interactions

Uploading documents

Time to get those docs up there:

async function uploadDocument(filePath, name) {
  const formData = new FormData();
  formData.append('file', fs.createReadStream(filePath));
  formData.append('name', name);

  const response = await client.post('/documents', formData, {
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'multipart/form-data' }
  });
  return response.data;
}

Creating links

Share those docs like a boss:

async function createLink(documentId) {
  const response = await client.post('/links', { document_id: documentId });
  return response.data;
}

Managing permissions

Keep your docs safe and sound:

async function updatePermissions(linkId, permissions) {
  const response = await client.put(`/links/${linkId}`, { permissions });
  return response.data;
}

Retrieving analytics

Let's see who's been peeking at your docs:

async function getAnalytics(documentId) {
  const response = await client.get(`/documents/${documentId}/analytics`);
  return response.data;
}

Error Handling and Best Practices

Don't let those pesky errors catch you off guard:

client.interceptors.response.use(
  response => response,
  error => {
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 429) {
      // Implement retry logic here
    }
    console.error('API Error:', error.response ? error.response.data : error.message);
    return Promise.reject(error);
  }
);

Advanced Features

Webhook integration

Stay in the loop with real-time updates:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.post('/webhook', express.json(), (req, res) => {
  console.log('Webhook received:', req.body);
  // Handle the webhook event
  res.sendStatus(200);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Webhook server running on port 3000'));

Bulk operations

Handle multiple docs like a champ:

async function bulkUpload(files) {
  return Promise.all(files.map(file => uploadDocument(file.path, file.name)));
}

Testing

Keep your code squeaky clean:

const { expect } = require('chai');
const sinon = require('sinon');

describe('DocSend API Integration', () => {
  it('should upload a document', async () => {
    const stub = sinon.stub(client, 'post').resolves({ data: { id: '123' } });
    const result = await uploadDocument('test.pdf', 'Test Document');
    expect(result.id).to.equal('123');
    stub.restore();
  });
});

Deployment Considerations

When you're ready to unleash your integration on the world:

• Use environment variables for all sensitive data
• Implement proper error logging and monitoring
• Consider using a rate limiting library to respect API limits
• Ensure your server is secure and up-to-date

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid DocSend API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning - there's always room to expand and improve. Keep exploring the API docs, and don't be afraid to push the boundaries.

Now go forth and document with confidence! 🚀📄