Step by Step Guide to Building a FareHarbor API Integration in C#

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of FareHarbor API integration? You're in for a treat. FareHarbor's API is a powerful tool that'll let you tap into their booking system, opening up a world of possibilities for your applications. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of building a solid integration in C#. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

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

• Visual Studio or your favorite C# IDE
• .NET Core SDK (latest version)
• FareHarbor API credentials (App Key and User Key)

Got all that? Great! Let's move on.

Setting up the project

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

1. Fire up Visual Studio and create a new C# Console Application.
2. Install the following NuGet packages:
   • Newtonsoft.Json
   • RestSharp

dotnet add package Newtonsoft.Json
dotnet add package RestSharp

Authentication

FareHarbor uses API key authentication. Let's set that up:

public class FareHarborClient
{
    private readonly string _appKey;
    private readonly string _userKey;
    private readonly RestClient _client;

    public FareHarborClient(string appKey, string userKey)
    {
        _appKey = appKey;
        _userKey = userKey;
        _client = new RestClient("https://fareharbor.com/api/external/v1/");
    }

    // We'll add more methods here later
}

Making API requests

Now, let's create a method to make API requests:

private async Task<T> MakeRequest<T>(string endpoint, Method method = Method.GET, object body = null)
{
    var request = new RestRequest(endpoint, method);
    request.AddHeader("X-FareHarbor-API-App", _appKey);
    request.AddHeader("X-FareHarbor-API-User", _userKey);

    if (body != null)
    {
        request.AddJsonBody(body);
    }

    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);

    if (!response.IsSuccessful)
    {
        throw new Exception($"API request failed: {response.ErrorMessage}");
    }

    return JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(response.Content);
}

Core API endpoints

Let's implement some core endpoints:

public async Task<List<Item>> GetItems(string shortName)
{
    var response = await MakeRequest<ItemsResponse>($"companies/{shortName}/items/");
    return response.Items;
}

public async Task<Availability> GetAvailability(string shortName, int itemId, DateTime date)
{
    var response = await MakeRequest<AvailabilityResponse>($"companies/{shortName}/items/{itemId}/availability/date/{date:yyyy-MM-dd}/");
    return response.Availability;
}

public async Task<Booking> CreateBooking(string shortName, BookingRequest bookingRequest)
{
    var response = await MakeRequest<BookingResponse>($"companies/{shortName}/bookings/", Method.POST, bookingRequest);
    return response.Booking;
}

Handling responses

We're using Newtonsoft.Json to deserialize responses. Make sure to create corresponding classes for each response type (ItemsResponse, AvailabilityResponse, etc.).

Implementing key features

Now that we have our core methods, let's implement some key features:

public async Task<List<AvailableTime>> SearchAvailableTimes(string shortName, int itemId, DateTime startDate, DateTime endDate)
{
    var availableTimes = new List<AvailableTime>();
    for (var date = startDate; date <= endDate; date = date.AddDays(1))
    {
        var availability = await GetAvailability(shortName, itemId, date);
        availableTimes.AddRange(availability.AvailableTimes);
    }
    return availableTimes;
}

Optimizing performance

To improve performance, consider implementing caching for frequently accessed data and respect rate limits:

private static readonly Dictionary<string, object> _cache = new Dictionary<string, object>();

private async Task<T> CachedRequest<T>(string cacheKey, Func<Task<T>> requestFunc, TimeSpan cacheDuration)
{
    if (_cache.TryGetValue(cacheKey, out var cachedValue) && cachedValue is T typedValue)
    {
        return typedValue;
    }

    var result = await requestFunc();
    _cache[cacheKey] = result;
    
    // Remove from cache after duration
    Task.Delay(cacheDuration).ContinueWith(_ => _cache.Remove(cacheKey));

    return result;
}

Testing and debugging

Don't forget to write unit tests for your key components. Here's a simple example using xUnit:

public class FareHarborClientTests
{
    [Fact]
    public async Task GetItems_ReturnsItems()
    {
        var client = new FareHarborClient("your_app_key", "your_user_key");
        var items = await client.GetItems("your_company_shortname");
        Assert.NotEmpty(items);
    }
}

Best practices and considerations

• Always use HTTPS for API requests
• Store API keys securely (use environment variables or a secure key vault)
• Implement proper error handling and logging
• Keep your integration up to date with API changes

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your FareHarbor API integration in C#. Remember, this is just the beginning. There's a lot more you can do with the API, so don't be afraid to explore and expand on what we've covered here.

Keep coding, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun with it! If you run into any snags, the FareHarbor API docs are your best friend. Happy integrating!