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

Aug 7, 2024 • 7 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of GoToWebinar integrations? Today, we're going to tackle one of the most crucial aspects of building a public integration: the authorization flow. Buckle up, because we're about to make your integration dreams a reality!

Introduction

GoToWebinar's API is a powerful tool that allows us to tap into their webinar platform. But before we can start pulling data and creating webinars programmatically, we need to get our authorization ducks in a row. Trust me, nailing this part will make the rest of your integration journey smooth sailing.

Prerequisites

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

A GoToWebinar Developer account (if you don't have one, go grab it!)
A solid grasp on OAuth 2.0 (don't worry, we'll refresh your memory)
Node.js and Express.js set up and ready to roll

Setting up the project

First things first, let's get our GoToWebinar OAuth application up and running:

Head over to the GoToWebinar Developer Portal
Create a new OAuth application
Jot down your client ID and client secret (keep these safe, they're your golden tickets!)

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Initiating the OAuth process

Let's kick things off by creating an authorization URL and redirecting our users to GoToWebinar's login page:

const authUrl = `https://api.getgo.com/oauth/v2/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&response_type=code&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}`;
res.redirect(authUrl);

Handling the callback

Now, set up an endpoint to handle the redirect URI:

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

Exchanging the code for an access token

Time to trade that code for an access token:

const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://api.getgo.com/oauth/v2/token', {
  grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  code,
  client_id: clientId,
  client_secret: clientSecret,
  redirect_uri: redirectUri
});

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

Refreshing the access token

Don't forget to implement a refresh mechanism:

const refreshTokens = async () => {
  const response = await axios.post('https://api.getgo.com/oauth/v2/token', {
    grant_type: 'refresh_token',
    refresh_token: storedRefreshToken,
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret
  });
  
  // Update stored tokens
};

Making authenticated requests

Now for the fun part - using your shiny new access token:

const getWebinars = async () => {
  const response = await axios.get('https://api.getgo.com/G2W/rest/v2/organizers/me/webinars', {
    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` }
  });
  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!
    await refreshTokens();
    // Retry the API call
  } else {
    // Handle other errors
  }
}

Security considerations

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility:

Keep your client secret... well, secret!
Always use HTTPS
Implement PKCE for added security (your future self will thank you)

Testing the integration

Before you pop the champagne, make sure to:

Test the full authorization flow manually
Set up some automated tests (your sanity will thank you later)

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid authorization flow for your GoToWebinar integration. Pat yourself on the back - you've tackled one of the trickiest parts of API integration.

Remember, this is just the beginning. With this foundation, you can now expand your integration to do all sorts of cool things with GoToWebinar's API. The webinar world is your oyster!

Additional resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Now go forth and integrate! Your users are waiting for the awesome features you're about to build. Happy coding!