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

Aug 16, 2024 • 6 minute read

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 DocSend API integration in PHP, giving you the power to manage documents, links, and analytics like a pro. Let's get our hands dirty!

Prerequisites

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

A PHP environment that's locked and loaded
A DocSend account with API credentials (if you don't have one, go grab it!)

Setting up the project

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

composer require guzzlehttp/guzzle

This'll bring in Guzzle, our HTTP client of choice. Now, let's create our project structure:

docsend-integration/
├── src/
│   └── DocSendClient.php
├── tests/
└── composer.json

Authentication

Time to get cozy with DocSend's API. We'll use OAuth 2.0 for authentication:

<?php

use GuzzleHttp\Client;

class DocSendClient
{
    private $client;
    private $accessToken;

    public function __construct($clientId, $clientSecret)
    {
        $this->client = new Client(['base_uri' => 'https://api.docsend.com/v1/']);
        $this->authenticate($clientId, $clientSecret);
    }

    private function authenticate($clientId, $clientSecret)
    {
        // Implement OAuth 2.0 flow here
        // Store the access token in $this->accessToken
    }
}

Basic API Requests

Now that we're authenticated, let's make some noise:

public function get($endpoint)
{
    return $this->client->get($endpoint, [
        'headers' => ['Authorization' => 'Bearer ' . $this->accessToken]
    ]);
}

public function post($endpoint, $data)
{
    return $this->client->post($endpoint, [
        'headers' => ['Authorization' => 'Bearer ' . $this->accessToken],
        'json' => $data
    ]);
}

// Implement put() and delete() methods similarly

Core DocSend API Functionalities

Document Management

Let's flex those API muscles:

public function uploadDocument($filePath, $name)
{
    return $this->post('documents', [
        'multipart' => [
            [
                'name' => 'file',
                'contents' => fopen($filePath, 'r'),
                'filename' => $name
            ]
        ]
    ]);
}

public function getDocument($documentId)
{
    return $this->get("documents/{$documentId}");
}

// Implement updateDocument() method

Link Management

public function createLink($documentId, $settings = [])
{
    return $this->post("documents/{$documentId}/links", $settings);
}

// Implement methods for updating and deleting links

Analytics

public function getViewData($documentId)
{
    return $this->get("documents/{$documentId}/views");
}

// Implement methods for generating reports

Error Handling and Rate Limiting

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

private function handleRequest($method, $endpoint, $options = [])
{
    try {
        $response = $this->client->$method($endpoint, $options);
        return json_decode($response->getBody(), true);
    } catch (RequestException $e) {
        // Handle rate limiting and other errors
        if ($e->getResponse()->getStatusCode() === 429) {
            // Implement retry logic
        }
        throw $e;
    }
}

Best Practices

Cache responses when possible to reduce API calls
Store API credentials securely (use environment variables!)
Implement proper logging for debugging

Testing the Integration

Don't forget to test your code! Here's a quick example using PHPUnit:

use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;

class DocSendClientTest extends TestCase
{
    public function testGetDocument()
    {
        $client = new DocSendClient('your_client_id', 'your_client_secret');
        $response = $client->getDocument('test_document_id');
        $this->assertArrayHasKey('id', $response);
    }
}

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for a DocSend API integration in PHP. With this setup, you can manage documents, create links, and dive into analytics data with ease. The possibilities are endless – from automating document workflows to creating custom reporting tools.

Additional Resources

Now go forth and build something awesome! Remember, the best way to learn is by doing, so don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries of what you can do with the DocSend API. Happy coding!