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

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of Givebutter integrations? Let's roll up our sleeves and build a rock-solid authorization flow that'll make your users feel safe and sound.

Introduction

Givebutter is an awesome fundraising platform, and integrating it into your app can open up a world of possibilities. But before we can start playing with donations and campaigns, we need to nail the authorization flow. It's like the bouncer at an exclusive club – it keeps the riffraff out and lets the VIPs (your users) in.

Prerequisites

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

• Givebutter API credentials (if you don't have 'em, go grab 'em!)
• A Node.js and Express.js setup (I know you've got this)
• A basic understanding of OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory)

Setting up the project

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

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

Create an index.js file and let's get cooking!

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Create the authorization request

Time to send your users on a little trip to Givebutter's authorization page:

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

const app = express();

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

function generateState() {
  // Generate a random state parameter
  return Math.random().toString(36).substring(7);
}

Handle the callback

When your user comes back from their Givebutter vacation, be ready to greet them:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code, state } = req.query;
  
  // Validate state parameter here
  
  try {
    const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://givebutter.com/oauth/token', {
      grant_type: 'authorization_code',
      client_id: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET,
      code,
      redirect_uri: process.env.REDIRECT_URI
    });
    
    const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
    
    // Store these tokens securely
    
    res.send('Authorization successful!');
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error exchanging code for token:', error);
    res.status(500).send('Authorization failed');
  }
});

Refresh token handling

Keep those tokens fresh like your morning coffee:

async function refreshAccessToken(refreshToken) {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://givebutter.com/oauth/token', {
      grant_type: 'refresh_token',
      refresh_token: refreshToken,
      client_id: process.env.CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: process.env.CLIENT_SECRET
    });
    
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error refreshing token:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Using the access token

Now that you've got the golden ticket, it's time to party with the Givebutter API:

async function makeGivebutterRequest(accessToken, endpoint) {
  try {
    const response = await axios.get(`https://givebutter.com/api/v1/${endpoint}`, {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
    });
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    // Handle errors, including token expiration
    if (error.response && error.response.status === 401) {
      // Time to refresh that token!
    }
    throw error;
  }
}

Error handling and edge cases

Always be prepared for the unexpected:

• Check for invalid or expired tokens
• Handle cases where the user denies authorization
• Implement proper error responses

Security considerations

Keep it locked down tight:

• Store tokens securely (consider encryption)
• Always use HTTPS
• Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse

Testing the integration

Give it a whirl:

1. Start your server and navigate to your auth endpoint
2. Go through the Givebutter authorization process
3. Check if you receive and can use the access token

Consider setting up some automated tests to keep things running smoothly as you make changes.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid authorization flow for your Givebutter integration. With this foundation, you're all set to start building amazing fundraising features into your app.

Remember, the auth flow is just the beginning. Now you can explore all the cool things you can do with the Givebutter API. The fundraising world is your oyster!

Additional resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

• Givebutter API documentation
• OAuth 2.0 best practices

Now go forth and build something awesome! Happy coding! 🚀