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

Hey there, fellow JavaScript aficionados! Ready to dive into the world of Donorbox integration? Today, we're focusing on the crucial part of any integration: the authorization flow. Let's get your users connected to Donorbox securely and efficiently.

Introduction

Donorbox is a fantastic platform for handling donations, but to make it truly shine, we need to integrate it into our applications. The key to a smooth integration? A rock-solid authorization flow. It's like the bouncer at an exclusive club – it keeps the right people in and the wrong people out.

Prerequisites

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

• Your favorite JavaScript environment set up
• A Donorbox account with API credentials (if you don't have these, hop over to Donorbox and get 'em!)
• A burning desire to create awesome integrations

Setting up the project

Let's start by getting our project ready:

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

Great! We've got our basic structure and dependencies. Now, let's create a .env file to store our secrets:

DONORBOX_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id
DONORBOX_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret
REDIRECT_URI=http://localhost:3000/callback

Understanding Donorbox OAuth 2.0 flow

Donorbox uses OAuth 2.0, which is like a digital handshake between your app and Donorbox. Here's the gist:

1. Your app asks Donorbox for permission
2. User logs in to Donorbox and grants permission
3. Donorbox gives your app a special code
4. Your app exchanges this code for an access token
5. You use this token to make API requests

Implementing the authorization flow

Initiating the auth request

First, let's create a route to start the auth process:

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

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

This sends your user on a trip to Donorbox's auth page. Bon voyage!

Handling the callback

When the user comes back, they'll bring a shiny new code. Let's grab it:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  // We'll use this code in the next step
});

Exchanging the code for access token

Now for the grand exchange:

const axios = require('axios');

// Inside your callback route
const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://donorbox.org/oauth/token', {
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code,
  client_id: process.env.DONORBOX_CLIENT_ID,
  client_secret: process.env.DONORBOX_CLIENT_SECRET,
  redirect_uri: process.env.REDIRECT_URI
});

const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
// Store these tokens securely!

Refreshing the access token

Access tokens don't last forever. When they expire, use the refresh token to get a new one:

async function refreshAccessToken(refresh_token) {
  const response = await axios.post('https://donorbox.org/oauth/token', {
    grant_type: 'refresh_token',
    refresh_token,
    client_id: process.env.DONORBOX_CLIENT_ID,
    client_secret: process.env.DONORBOX_CLIENT_SECRET
  });
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Making authenticated requests to Donorbox API

With your access token, you're ready to rock the Donorbox API:

async function getDonorboxData(access_token) {
  const response = await axios.get('https://donorbox.org/api/v1/campaigns', {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${access_token}` }
  });
  return response.data;
}

Error handling and edge cases

Always be prepared for things to go sideways:

try {
  // Your API call here
} catch (error) {
  if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
    // Time to refresh that token!
  } else {
    console.error('Oops! Something went wrong:', error);
  }
}

Testing the integration

Time to put on your testing hat:

1. Start your server (node app.js)
2. Visit http://localhost:3000/auth
3. Follow the Donorbox authorization process
4. Check your server logs to see if you got the tokens

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a secure authorization flow for your Donorbox integration. You're now ready to create amazing donation experiences for your users.

Remember, this is just the beginning. You can expand on this to create a full-fledged integration with all the bells and whistles Donorbox has to offer.

Now go forth and integrate! Your users (and their chosen causes) will thank you. Happy coding!