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

Aug 15, 2024 • 5 minute read

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of Givebutter API integration with Ruby? Let's get cracking!

Introduction

Givebutter's API is a powerful tool for customizing and extending your fundraising capabilities. In this guide, we'll walk through building a robust integration that'll have you managing campaigns and donations like a pro.

Prerequisites

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

Ruby 2.7+
The httparty gem (we'll use this for API requests)
A Givebutter API key (grab this from your Givebutter dashboard)

Setting Up the Project

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

mkdir givebutter_integration
cd givebutter_integration
bundle init

Now, add this to your Gemfile:

gem 'httparty'

And run:

bundle install

Authentication

Alright, let's get authenticated! Create a new file called givebutter_client.rb:

require 'httparty'

class GivebutterClient
  include HTTParty
  base_uri 'https://api.givebutter.com/v1'

  def initialize(api_key)
    @options = { headers: { "X-API-KEY" => api_key } }
  end

  # We'll add more methods here soon!
end

Making API Requests

Now for the fun part - let's start making some requests!

def get_campaigns
  self.class.get('/campaigns', @options)
end

def create_donation(campaign_id, amount, supporter_info)
  self.class.post("/campaigns/#{campaign_id}/donations", {
    body: {
      amount: amount,
      supporter: supporter_info
    }.to_json,
    headers: @options[:headers].merge({ 'Content-Type' => 'application/json' })
  })
end

Implementing Key Features

Let's put these methods to work:

client = GivebutterClient.new('your_api_key_here')

# List campaigns
campaigns = client.get_campaigns
puts campaigns

# Create a donation
donation = client.create_donation('campaign_id', 1000, { email: '[email protected]', name: 'John Doe' })
puts donation

Error Handling and Best Practices

Always expect the unexpected! Let's add some error handling:

def handle_request
  response = yield
  case response.code
  when 200...300
    response
  when 429
    raise "Rate limit exceeded. Try again in #{response.headers['Retry-After']} seconds."
  else
    raise "Request failed with code #{response.code}: #{response.body}"
  end
end

def get_campaigns
  handle_request { self.class.get('/campaigns', @options) }
end

Testing the Integration

Don't forget to test! Here's a quick RSpec example:

RSpec.describe GivebutterClient do
  let(:client) { GivebutterClient.new('test_api_key') }

  it 'fetches campaigns successfully' do
    VCR.use_cassette('campaigns') do
      response = client.get_campaigns
      expect(response.code).to eq(200)
      expect(response.parsed_response).to include('data')
    end
  end
end

Deployment Considerations

When deploying, remember:

Use environment variables for your API key
Implement proper error logging
Consider using a rate limiting library to respect API limits

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid Givebutter API integration in Ruby. Remember, this is just the beginning - there's so much more you can do with the API. Keep exploring, keep coding, and keep making a difference with your fundraising efforts!

Happy coding, and may your campaigns be ever successful! 🚀💰