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

Aug 11, 2024 • 7 minute read

Hey there, fellow JavaScript enthusiast! Ready to dive into the world of HoneyBook integrations? Today, we're going to walk through building the authorization flow for a user-facing integration. Buckle up, because we're about to make your app play nicely with HoneyBook's powerful features.

Introduction

HoneyBook is a game-changer for small businesses, and by building integrations, we're taking it to the next level. In this guide, we'll focus on the crucial part of any integration: the authorization flow. This is how we'll get the green light from users to access their HoneyBook data. Exciting, right?

Prerequisites

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

A HoneyBook 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 HoneyBook App

First things first, let's get our app registered with HoneyBook:

Head over to the HoneyBook Developer Portal
Create a new app (give it a cool name!)
Jot down your client ID and client secret (keep these safe!)
Set up your redirect URI (this is where HoneyBook will send the user after they log in)

Implementing the Authorization Flow

Now for the fun part – let's build this flow!

Initiating the auth request

We'll start by constructing the authorization URL:

const authUrl = `https://www.honeybook.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=${clientId}&redirect_uri=${redirectUri}&response_type=code`;

When a user wants to connect their HoneyBook account, send them to this URL. They'll log in to HoneyBook and grant your app permissions.

Handling the callback

Once the user grants permission, HoneyBook will redirect them back to your redirect_uri with an authorization code. Catch this code and exchange it for an access token:

app.get('/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code } = req.query;
  const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://api.honeybook.com/oauth/token', {
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    code,
    grant_type: 'authorization_code',
  });
  
  const { access_token, refresh_token } = tokenResponse.data;
  // Store these tokens securely
});

Storing and managing tokens

Store these tokens securely (please, not in plain text!). You'll need to implement a mechanism to refresh the access token when it expires:

async function refreshAccessToken(refreshToken) {
  const tokenResponse = await axios.post('https://api.honeybook.com/oauth/token', {
    client_id: clientId,
    client_secret: clientSecret,
    refresh_token: refreshToken,
    grant_type: 'refresh_token',
  });
  
  return tokenResponse.data.access_token;
}

Making Authenticated Requests

Now that you have the access token, you can make authenticated requests to HoneyBook's API:

const response = await axios.get('https://api.honeybook.com/v1/user', {
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessToken}` },
});

Error Handling and Edge Cases

Always be prepared for things to go sideways. Handle expired tokens by refreshing them, and gracefully manage user denials or cancellations.

Security Considerations

Security is not optional, folks! Here are some must-dos:

Keep your client secret... well, secret!
Implement PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) for added security
Use the state parameter to prevent CSRF attacks

Testing the Integration

Set up a test environment and simulate the auth flow. Try happy paths, error scenarios, and edge cases. Your future self will thank you!

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a rock-solid authorization flow for your HoneyBook integration. Give yourself a pat on the back – you've taken a big step towards creating a powerful, user-friendly integration.

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Remember, the key to a great integration is a smooth user experience and rock-solid security. Keep iterating, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun building! Happy coding!