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

Introduction

Hey there, fellow dev! Ready to dive into the world of Givebutter API integration? You're in for a treat. Givebutter's API is a powerful tool that'll let you tap into fundraising data and functionality. Whether you're building a custom dashboard or automating donation processes, this guide will get you up and running in no time.

Prerequisites

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

• Node.js and npm installed (you know the drill)
• A Givebutter account with an API key (if you don't have one, hop over to Givebutter and grab it)
• Your favorite JS framework (optional, but hey, why not?)

Setting up the project

Let's get this show on the road:

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

Create a .env file for your API key:

GIVEBUTTER_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Authentication

Time to get cozy with the Givebutter API. First, let's set up our authentication:

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

const givebutter = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.givebutter.com/v1',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.GIVEBUTTER_API_KEY}`
  }
});

Making API requests

Now that we're all set up, let's make our first request:

async function getCampaigns() {
  try {
    const response = await givebutter.get('/campaigns');
    console.log(response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching campaigns:', error.response.data);
  }
}

getCampaigns();

Key API endpoints

Givebutter's got a bunch of endpoints, but here are the heavy hitters:

• /campaigns: Your fundraising campaigns
• /donations: Where the money comes in
• /supporters: The awesome people backing your cause

Implementing core functionalities

Let's put these endpoints to work:

async function processDonation(amount, campaignId, supporterEmail) {
  try {
    const response = await givebutter.post('/donations', {
      amount,
      campaign_id: campaignId,
      supporter_email: supporterEmail
    });
    console.log('Donation processed:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error processing donation:', error.response.data);
  }
}

Error handling and rate limiting

Don't let those pesky errors get you down. Let's add some retry logic:

async function makeRequest(endpoint, method = 'get', data = null) {
  const maxRetries = 3;
  let retries = 0;

  while (retries < maxRetries) {
    try {
      const response = await givebutter[method](endpoint, data);
      return response.data;
    } catch (error) {
      if (error.response && error.response.status === 429) {
        retries++;
        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1000 * retries));
      } else {
        throw error;
      }
    }
  }
  throw new Error('Max retries reached');
}

Webhooks integration

Webhooks are your friends. Here's a quick Express server to handle them:

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

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

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

Testing and debugging

Don't forget to test your integration! Here's a simple test using Jest:

test('getCampaigns returns data', async () => {
  const campaigns = await getCampaigns();
  expect(campaigns).toBeDefined();
  expect(Array.isArray(campaigns)).toBe(true);
});

Best practices and optimization

Remember to cache when you can and handle your data efficiently. Your future self will thank you!

const NodeCache = require('node-cache');
const cache = new NodeCache({ stdTTL: 600 }); // Cache for 10 minutes

async function getCachedCampaigns() {
  const cachedCampaigns = cache.get('campaigns');
  if (cachedCampaigns) return cachedCampaigns;

  const campaigns = await getCampaigns();
  cache.set('campaigns', campaigns);
  return campaigns;
}

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to build some awesome integrations with the Givebutter API. Remember, this is just the beginning. There's a whole world of possibilities out there, so go forth and code! If you hit any snags, the Givebutter docs are your best friend. Happy coding, and may your integrations be ever smooth and your donations plentiful!